I am your husband! A good husband!
Ha!! I am your wife. A better wife!
If you are better, then I am the best!
Forget it patidev! Patnis are the best. Even the Gods accept this fact! We are the better half!
Yes I accept it hands down! The better half in the bheja frying department!
What a Brute!
Ha! Miss Prude!
Oh shut up Raavan Kumar!
You shut up Jhansi ki Rani ! God was definitely in His foulest mood when he decided to create women, especially YOU.
I don't know about that but He definitely broke HIS own record when he decided to create YOU.
What were you thinking while making THIS masterpiece God? At least You should have thought to insert a switch on and off button and send me a remote control along to control her? Why did she have to fall in my lap?
In your dreams Mr Bhalla! I will never fall in your lap!
Thank god for that. You sat on my lap once and my legs pained for weeks. Not interested!
You don't deserve it anyway!
Of course! I don't deserve a bore like you.
I DON'T DESERVE A BOAR LIKE YOU.
This boar is the only one who can bear a bore like you.
And who can bear you except me Raman Kumar Bhalla?
Rab ne bana di Jodi!
Exactly Rab ne bana di... Jodi...!
The two immediately stopped their banter and stared at each other, the impact of what they had just said seeping in. With a faked, to get rid of the acute embarrassment, Raman had finally nevertheless to point out to her:
- I win this round.
Her answer was quick to come. In an exasperated tone, she concluded with a:
- No way! It is a tie! Because we both agree that we are made for each other...uh...I mean...
- Ok! It is tie. Stop arguing with me. Mujhe neend aa raha hain.
Their faces blushed in embarrassment, both turned away to go back to sleep. As soon as Raman turned his back, he ran his fingers in his hair with a silly smile while Ishita tapped her forehead and hid her face in her hand, smiling embarrassingly, as she went to her couch!
Sitting in front of his laptop, Raman's thoughts were occupied by the woman who was sharing his life for the past months. They were married for only six months but she had managed to bring what his ex wife couldn't bring in six years - so much happiness to him and his family and of course those adorable nokjhoks which were part and parcel of their life. Stifling a laugh, thinking of how his marital life was crazy with his Jhansi ki Rani, Raman went back to what happened some weeks back with their nagging habit to challenge and surpass each other.
Grabbing his arm, she forcefully pulled him down to the floor.
- Are you sure...
- Yes I am not backing away from this!
Ready
Eyes determined, gazes fierce, they lay across from each other, on their stomachs, with their elbows positioned.
- My Papa is the best!
- Ruhiii...
- Of course my Ishimaa is also best.
- Your Ishimaa is the best cry baby Ruhi! She lost the cricket match and now she wants another match to get even with me.
- Ufffooo papa, Ufffoo Ishimaa! You too fight too much. Concentrate na!! I am the referee cum judge. So no cheating!
- I am no cheater Ruhi. You should tell this to your dad who won the cricket match by cheating shamelessly.
Putting a stop at their never ending argument, Ruhi shouted:
Get set...
- You really think you can win this?
- I can Mr Raavan Kumar!
- Ok Dara Singh ki poti! Let's start.
A grin twitched on his lips as his eyes roamed over her defiant face. She gripped his hands as he emphatically did the same.
Arm wrestling with Jhansi ki Rani!
She moved a little bit, repositioning herself and as she did so, Raman's eyes went immediately to...the upper swell of her breasts. Raman gulped.
Go...
She pushed with supreme exertion and his fist hit the losing side.
- Wow! I can't believe this! I won!
Raman's attention suddenly thudded back to the moment.
- No you did not! My attention was...was
Raman's eyes again drifted to her bare skin while his clueless wife continued:
- Oh no! No excuses please. I won fair and squ...
It then dawned to her that he was not really listening to her and realized where his eyes were! She hurriedly tried to pull her hand free from him...but he gripped her tighter. In one swift movement, he whipped her hand to her losing side and won effectively for himself. With a smirk, he hissed:
- A tie again!
She immediately stood up completely embarrassed, blushing profusely, realizing where Raman's eyes were as she was making a fool of herself just to win a match. Looking down, trying to fix herself, she lifted her head when she heard Ruhi
- Is the match over? Who won? I went in the kitchen to take a glass of juice and some chips.
- Yes Ruhi, picture...uh...I mean game is over. Your Ishimaa is full of spunk this morning but unfortunately she lost again.
- Awww!Again! Poor Ishimaa!
Their referee was not even around and these two didn't even notice. He stood there staring at her, as she went away pulling Ruhi along and grinned when she heard her.
- Referee ki bacchi! You went away and let your papa win again by cheating!
Raman laughed heartily. Together they were weaving so many heartfelt and unforgettable memories that would last a lifetime. How would he ever forget all those sweet moments with her? - His first encounter with a needle after their marriage and how her eyes had went all teary seeing him in pain, her hand in sling and him tying her ghore ke pooch...uh...long hair and helping her with her pleats, him treating her mushroom allergy, her putting a button on his shirt...and much more. These moments had revealed their care for each other and had made their hearts somersaulting so much!
With a shy smile, Raman sighed and rested his head on the bed rest, closing his eyes. That were weeks back where the two would fight and taunt non-stop and pull each others' legs just to cover up what they have started feeling for each other. How less complicated it was before! He would shout at her and get angry with her for nothing and she would rile and tease him.
But now...
The equation was changing... the equation has changed. The way he looked at her had changed. He had no idea when the cactus had changed into a rose - a beautiful rose whose fragrance lingered around and on him all the time, but it had. He would still hide behind garbs but would get caught because his body language and eyes would give him away. Raman Kumar Bhalla was hooked, line and sinker and it showed in his every single behaviour and attitude.
Ishita on the other hand was fighting her own little battle every day to secure her fragile heart. His change demeanor towards her had increased her restlessness. Her "Naaryal Kumar" whose way of showing care and love was as unique as the man himself, was making her fall irrevocably in love with him.
Both needed excuses to be with each other. Her lectures were no longer boring and his taunts no longer bothering. They would look forward to these silly wars which would always end up confirming to each other that love was indeed in the air.
But things took a different turn with the arrival of Mani, his wife's "bestie". He literally dug the green monster in Raman. His possessiveness, insecurity, jealousy...leapt. He knew it was pathetic of him but he no longer had control over his senses. He was MAD at himself, MAD at her and MAD at that man who was there impressing HIS INNOCENT WIFE and his family.
Raman was hell bent to prove that he was a very good husband after Mani told him in his face that he was a loser of a husband. It rubbed him the wrong way and he decided to prove to himself that HE WAS A GOOD HUSBAND. As soon as he had "googled" tips to impress the wife, he started to work on it.
Help your wife!
He tried to help her but got the washing machine out of order.
Befriend her friend!
He wanted to gift that Mani a bottle of poison but opted for his most expensive brand of whiskey but his mental mother in law flushed it out in the toilet.
Kiss your wife!
A kiss! What was the big deal? He was no virgin. He had kissed and bedded and had made children for goddamm sake! Raman Kumar Bhalla would kiss his wife and left her wanting more! The next day would be the dare devil act! He would kiss her in the morning before leaving home. He slept with that firm resolution. But the next day he chickened out and left for work without meeting her.
Back home he still felt nervous as if it was his first kiss. He practiced with Romi, Ananya and Simmi but still felt nervous. His throat felt dry and he was sweating profusely. He remembered an incident in college where some boys were saying how girls were keeping pepper sprays with them for boys who tried to get close. Dreams of freakishly scary images of pepper spray in Ishita's hand trying to burn his eyes real bad started haunting him. It was pretty clear that Ishita would be flabbergasted if he kissed her. After much thought, Raman finally opted for a simple on cheek kiss. The next day he schemed and plotted using Ruhi as a pawn to help him. Ruhi immediately accepted. Poor thing was so used to see her papa and Ishimaa engaged in challenges in life.
With Ruhi there, Raman thought inwardly, Ishita would definitely try to control her Jhansi ki Rani impulses in case she disliked the stunt. With that in mind, he started his plan. Bring me the most important person Ruhi beta! Papa will kiss that person to win the challenge. He asked his loving daughter.
His niece Ananya and sister Simmi were presented on the spot and he obliged.
But...Holy cow!
His daughter literally brought the most important person in the Bhalla house , the one whose contribution could not be overlooked and whose absence would create chaos in their lives! Neelu the maid was brought for him to kiss.
Next in line to crush his lips, was Pammi aunty according to her daughter. Who else would he have to kiss? Muthu? The watchman? Sangat ka assar! Her smart daughter was turning as duffer as her Ishimaa. How was pammy aunty the most important, Ruhi jaane but...thanking God she was not around, Raman had heaved a relief.
Finally she came, in her red kurti, her hair loose, looking pretty without any make up with only a small red bindi adorning her forehead. The embarrass look and the darker shade of pink creeping on her cheeks when she understood the reason she was brought in the room urged Raman to take the plunge. She was shy but she was not unwilling. He understood it. Without thinking twice, his eyes never leaving her beautiful face, he lifted his arm towards the window to defocus her attention on him and as soon as her eyes followed his movement, he moved closer and pecked her on her cheek, letting his lips linger on her cheek. When he lifted his face and looked at her, he felt his heart somersaulting in his chest. They stared at each other for a long time and only broke their eye lock when they heard Ruhi's exciting shouts. The innocent angel ran out ready to tell everyone what an awesome dad she had, leaving the two facing the after effect of the kiss. Ishita kept stealing glances at him, all shy and blushing as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. He stood there as shy as she was, acutely aware of what had transpired between them when his lips had come in touch with her cheek. His hand on her arm, He had felt a shiver running through her.
He had felt as if his heart would pop out any second. He walked away with a shy smile and turned at the right time to see her completely lost, her fingers caressing her creamy and hot cheek in the process. How he wished that she would take it as a challenge and come back to him and return the kiss back to him like a true blue blooded Jhansi ki Rani!!
He would whole heartily accept defeat and announce her as the winner without any argument.
Yes love was indeed in the air!
Anupamaa
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