IshRa: Coming Home OS [Fluff, Redemption, Confession, Family, Romance]

C O M I N G H O M E

He looked at her house, now resembling a newly wed brode. Was there a celebration he wasn't aware of? But then it had three long months since he contacted home. Home. Her. It had been three months since he moved away from anyone and everyone who reminded him of her. Or better yet, anyone who would possibly deliver a snippet that would involve her and successfully shatter his carefully built nonchalant exterior. He took the courtesy to peep into her maternal house. She looked happy, radiant as she laughed along with her cousins, giggling to what could be a possibly be a silly joke cracked by one of them. A part of him cried at the thought of her getting over him. A part of him questioned him on when the woman in front of him was ever his. When was she ever his?

He remembered the last time he spoke to her. He felt her shatter with each word spoken by him. He had watched as the calmness turned into anger and the anger into rage. He watched as their carefully put together bedroom turned to resemble a room hit by a tornado. He had watched as she drained out of emotions. As her legs gave away and as she crumbled onto the floor. As she stared into blank space unable to comprehend whatever was being said to her. He watched as she turned away from his touch. As she told him to let go, that she was fine - just fine. He watched as she picked herself hours later. She had walked over to what had been their wardrobe as she picked up the night gown, her bare necessities and herself as she walked out of his room and his life. He had followed her out, choosing to spend the night at a neighbouring resort. He remembered spending the night drowning in his sorrows. He remembered the call at dawn. His wife had been in a life threatening accident. And once again, he had been the one to blame. If it wasn't for him, if it wasn't him asking for a split up that night. If only had he strength to face his demons - his past. If only he was wiser, braver and stronger. If only.

He remembered holding her hands in the nights that followed as she slipped in and out of consciousness. Her hospital room had transformed into his temporary room, the beside chair - his bed, her arms - his solace. He remembered her lucid dreams, as she half consciously uttered his name begging him not to leave. But leave he did, he had left the minute she showed signs of improvement choosing to watch her from afar. He had booked his tickets to New York as he informed his staff to move his base there for the months to come. He had packed and left the minute she gained consciousness. The doctors incharge assuring him of her safety. He had kissed his daughter multiple times, reminding her to share the kisses with her mother in the days to come. Their daughter, too young to comprehend the turmoil he mentally faced, had just urged him to come home faster. 'Mama and I love you alot, Papa. Don't you ever forget that," his six year old had said, far too wise for her age.

He looked over to his daughter, meeting her in person for the first time in three months. His baby girl was gobbling those distasteful Madrasi delicacies. His mini Madrasan, he mused. He had towards Ruhi, ushering her to come over. He had placed a finger over his lips as he called her over. She understood his silence, just like her mother did. She ran over to him and he engulfed her into a massive hug, placing wet kisses all over her face and occasionally twirling her around. His baby girl had grown up in a tiny span of three months. No amount of calls, chats or video messages could justify him holding his tiny tot in his arms - safe from the big bad world out there. What about your wife, a voice in his mind called out.

My wife.

Ruhi's mother had walked out, giggling as she searched for her baby.

"Ruhi baba, you'll hurt yourself. You shouldn't trouble Mama on a day like this. Ru baby, this isn't the time to play hide and seek, Love," his wife had claimed as he searched in every nook and corner for their baby. She froze as she spotted their daughter in his arms. He wasn't sure if she was shocked about him being here or him ignoring to inform her of his return.

"Ish.."

"Jeeju, Peri amma Jeeju aa gaye."

"Par Bala toh yahi hai,"

"Raman Jeeju,"

"Raman,"

His mother-in-law had rushed over to welcome him. His wife had shook her head at the woman who walked over to welcome him. Instead she had held his hand and lead him to the adjoining apartment - their home. The apartment devoid of all its members. She had let go of his hands the minute they entered their room. Their daughter still in his arms as the little girl chattered away about all the stuff he had missed. She was walked over to the bathroom, then walked to their bedroom. She had arrived with a change of clothes, a towel, a fresh change of undergarments and his basic necessities. She had then proceeded to mollycoddle their daughter into letting her father to freshen himself. Minutes later he had walked to a selection of outfits set out for him. Stuff ranging from his Nehru suits to formal suits. He had carefully transformed into a presentable version of himself and then changed into something that went hand in hand in what she wore.

He walked on to his wife at the kitchen island and his daughter helping her mother out as she tried her level best to set the table for him - his wife smiling away as little Ruhi refused any help.

The had shared their meal in bliss. Laughing at Ruhi's antics if not aptly taking in every word said by her. It was as he held his daughters hands later did he realise that his wife hadn't spoken to him. She hadn't said a word to him. Not a word

The evening turned into nightfall as he accompanied by his daughter watched their Ishima busy herself, seldom taking a break to ask inquire about them. Annoyed by his wife's concern when it came to herself he had held her by her waist as he pulled into an unoccupied room, where their daughter waited with a plate containing her mother's favourite delicacies. He held her put as their daughter proceeded to feed her mother - with him occasionally helping her out. As she fed the both of them in return - he had gladly complied.

It was hours later at midnight had they decided to celebrate his coming home with an ice-cream treat. They had shared one massive bowl of ice-cream owing to the fact that their daughter preferred blackcurrant as her desired flavour which ironically was her mother's preferred flavour and he was dying to share anything with his two favourite girls.

Ruhi had fallen asleep soon after, safely cocooned in her mother arms. He had abruptly stopped the car at an ocean view, clearly unable to comprehend the silence. He had walked out the car and then proceeded to walk over to the passenger seat, ushering his wife out of the car. Her eyes had widened in fear of waking their sleeping daughter. They had leaned on the car as they gazed at the beauty that was the night sky as he picked a cup of coffee from the vehicle and a bottle of beer for himself. He had handed her the cup of take away coffee as he attempted to uncork the bottle of beer with the help of his teeth.

"That's a horrible habit you have there," she had said.

"That's the first word you've said to me in ages,"

"Oh, have I?" she mused absentmindedly.

"Yes,"

Their conversation had returned to silence all over again.

"Why didn't you walk away?" He prodded clearly wanting to know her.

"I vowed not to."

"I broke our vow,"

"No, you didn't. Everyone needs a break."

"And,"

"And I'm a difficult person to live with, Mr Bhalla," she chuckled.

"And I love you for that,"

Silence.

"I never knew when it started, you know. Maybe it was one of those nights where I gazed at your sleeping form. Or when I watched you interact with Ruhi. Maybe it was when you smiled at me, or the times you unknowingly stole my heart... Over and over again. Maybe it was in lectures or in your unsaid promises. In our vows or in our silence. Your patience, virtue, innocence, calmness, that I found myself healing. And I found myself falling in love, all over again or probably, for the first time. For the first time I was scared of myself, for myself. I was scared of hurting you, of chasing you away, of being selfish, of not loving you to your capabilities. I was scared of falling short. I was scared of losing you. Until I woke up and realised that it didn't matter. That every day was equivalent to our last. That every moment mattered. Your smile. Your kiss. You gestures. Your selflessness. You ignorance. You anger. You faith. Your patience. You Love. Just you. And in that moment it didn't matter. All that mattered was you. And it has always been you. It will always be you. Then, now and for the moments to come,"

He felt her lips on his. Silencing him. And that was the moment he realised that he loved her all over again. And that there would moments to come. An infinite amount of moments. And they would resume from right where they stopped. That time wouldn't matter, as their love would stop would stop in time. And that they would find each other other all over again. That was the moment he vowed to never let go.

"I love you, Ishita," whispered in between kisses.

"The feeling's mutual, Raavan Kumar. I love you, too."

"I love you'll the most, if only y'all could stop squishing me," their sleepy daughter mumbled in her sleep.

He let out a hearty chuckle as his wife cooed over their baby.

He had forever to continue what she started.

Forever.

It was beautiful kiara and I didn't want it to end.

You capture these moments and make them come alive. You are super talented Masha Allah :)

Maybe not one of your best pieces?

I beg to differ Kiara...I dare say this is your best piece.

Your words read like poetry...and I can only be in awe.

The first few lines made me think of this:

"For the two of us, home isn't a place. It is a person. And we are finally home." - Stephanie Perkins

My words will never do justice to yours...so I won't try.

I heart you for writing such wonderful goodness...and so much more.

Love,

~P

THANK YOU.

*edit 1*

seriously, i wish you could understand what you do to me. i've bookmarked this post and i'm trying to read it every few hours but 2 paragraphs in and i'm like "nope. i can't". YOU GIVE ME THE FEELS KIARA. Too many feels at once, can't take it.

*be patient with me 😳*

Finally read it, this time around was the good one, read it in one go !

I really really loved it.

I could connect right away with this piece because of the quote in the beginning, that's something my mother tells me over and over so when i started reading your pice, it already felt like home to me.

And then, finally they talk, and they resume to where HE left HER because she is the best for him and she understands without him having to give explanations or apologizes. She didn't walk away because he didn't. He just gave himself some space to learn to be loved and to love.

But then, words have to be said, not so much to explain anything but because it's killing him to keep it all inside. Once he starts to speak, he doesn't know where to stop. There is so much he wants to tell her and he feels like there is so little time, that they'll be apart before he has finished but she kisses him quiet because she's here to remind that it's not the case : they have forever together. They do.

She heals him and he's scared of that at times so he leaves but he can't really leave, he can't leave forever because she is everything to him.

Thank you Kiara for this.❤️