IshRa FF Strangers Chapter 22-27 Page 94-95 *Completed* (3/3/15) - Page 19

Chapter 9

The pitter-patter of raindrops against the tiled roof and the glass panes of the windows made an earthy, rhythmic music in the otherwise absolute silence of the house. The only other sound was the soft whispers of her breath or maybe it was his. They did not know. Another rumble of thunder had Ishita clutching Raman's shirtfront tighter. "Its okay Ishita. I am right here. You'll be alright," he said, gently caressing the back of her head in a soothing motion. She was so soft and warm to hold, Raman realized. She had a very subtle fragrance on. Not the kind that overpowered your senses. But the kind that teased your senses, that left you wanting more. He was so absorbed in making these intimate discoveries about her that he forgot about time and place. They stood just like that, in each other's arms till the thunder subsided leaving behind rain in its wake.

Ishita was the first to realize the intimacy of their position and she stepped back hurriedly looking away. "I.. I am.. I am sorry," she muttered, not meeting his gaze. It took Raman a few seconds more to get a hold on himself. Good Lord! Had he really just been having those kinds of thoughts for this Madrasi Jhansi ki Rani? This solitary confinement with her in the middle of nowhere was really getting to him. He raked a hand through his hair and looked at her. She wasn't even meeting his gaze. This was awkward. He had to do or say something. "First you wouldn't let go of my hand and then you wouldn't let go of me and you still expect me to believe that you don't have any wrong intentions?" Raman asked her. That spiked Ishita's temper. "Oh please! You were the one who wasn't letting go of me even after the thunder stopped. And.. I.. Was.. I was scared. And normally I go hug my Appa when there is thunder outside.." she explained. "What?! You are comparing me to your Appa? Do I look like a 50-60 year old to you?" Raman was indignant. "Oh no!" Ishita said immediately. "Good!" Raman retorted. "My Appa looks much younger and is more handsome than you," she added and burst out laughing. Raman smirked and said, "Next time, when it thunders, go find your Appa to hug. Don't come to me." Ishita made a face at him and got up to clear up the table.

***

"Aren't you going to bed?" Ishita asked when she found Raman lingering near the doorway of the kitchen after she'd cleared away the dishes. "Will you be alright? I mean.. There is no power and.. If there is more thunder?" he asked. Ishita was really touched by his show of care and the fact that he wasn't mocking her. "I think I'll manage. Thank you for asking though. That is really sweet of you," she said smiling. "Oh no! I wasn't being sweet or anything. I just happen to value my honor a lot. What if thunder strikes at night again and you jump in bed with me and have your way with me on the pretext of being scared?" Raman asked in all seriousness. Ishita's jaw nearly hit the floor at his impudence. "I don't want anything like that to happen." he declared. Ishita grabbed one of the cushions from the couch to throw at him but he dodged it neatly as he made his way to the bedroom laughing, leaving a fuming Ishita behind.

Ishita lay on the couch and her thoughts went over the day's happenings. Raavan Kumar could be charming when he wanted to, she conceded to herself. And he was caring, though he went to great lengths to pretend otherwise. Inadvertently, her thoughts turned to the moments when she had been in his arms. She remembered the strong warmth of his embrace, she remembered the way his breath fanned her face, she remembered the way his heart beat strong and steady beneath her palm. Surprisingly, her mind seemed to have registered quite a lot about him in those few moments, she realized. No! This was ridiculous! This was Raavan Kumar. She didn't even like him! They were so very different. They didn't even know each other. And it didn't matter anyways. They were here for only a few days. She had to remind herself that. And remind herself of her past so she wouldn't end up making the same mistakes again, she thought teary eyed before falling asleep.

***

The morning rays of sunshine peaked in from behind the curtains. Ishita woke up and opened the window like she did every morning. The crisp, clean scent of a freshly drenched earth wafted in and Ishita hugged herself smiling. She felt happy and free. The way she hadn't felt in a long while. Unknown to her, Raman was watching her from the kitchen. When was the last time he had stopped to enjoy the beauty of the morning? He wondered. When was the last time he had stopped to pay attention to anything and anyone around him? He thought. Maybe this was life's way of getting him to slow down, to live life and not just keep racing. He grabbed the tea cup next to him and headed towards Ishita.

"Good morning," he said placing the tea cup on the ledge next to her. Ishita was surprised. "You are awake? So early? And you've made tea for me?" she asked reaching for the cup while she gazed towards the sky, "the sun must definitely have risen from the west this morning." "Ha ha ha! Your sense of humor is as outdated as you are," Raman replied. "My sense of humor might be outdated but there seems to a new Raavan Kumar in front of me. New and improved Raavan Kumar, version 2.0. I wonder what made your default khadoos settings change," she commented. "Because I am not ready to die just yet," he replied, sipping his coffee. "What?" Ishita asked puzzled. "I've decided to take over the kitchen from today. If I become your kitchen lab rat for one more day, I am sure I won't survive. So from now on, I'm in charge of the cooking," he stated. "You know how to cook?" Ishita asked doubtfully. "Why? Can't men cook? Do you not know that all the best chefs in the world are men?" he asked. "That is debatable. But I am just surprised that a businessman like you, CEO of the year and all, has had the time to learn cooking. Or wait, does CEO of the year stand for something else? Like Chef's Executive Orderly?" and she burst out laughing. "That is the worst PJ I have ever heard in my life," he replied not amused at all. "And I don't understand why you women make such a big deal about cooking. Its so simple. Anyone can do it. There is nothing to learn," he said confidently. "Oh, is that so, Mr. Raavan Kumar? May I please have the honor of watching you display your exceptional culinary skills?" Ishita asked teasing him. "Sure. We're having aloo parathas for breakfast," he declared as he made his way towards the kitchen.

***

"Are you sure this is how its supposed to be?" Ishita asked Raman an hour and a half later. He had added mashed potatoes into flour along with water, salt and a generous dollop of yogurt too saying it would make the parathas soft. Now, he was in the process of kneading the pasty dough, or at least trying to. "I really think you added way too many potatoes. And I don't think you need yogurt in there," Ishita said trying hard to control her laughter. "Oh shut up! Like you know anything about Punjabi cooking! This is exactly the way its made. We just need to add a little flour to it and it'll be fine," he argued. "What are you waiting for? Hand me the flour," he snapped at her. Ishita chuckled as she added more flour to the pasty mix that Raman was trying to knead. "Are you laughing at me?" Raman asked irritated. "Oh goodness no! How can I dare laugh at Master Chef Raavan Kumar?" Ishita replied cheekily. "Listen, whatever I make will definitely turn out better than that rasam of yours, you crazy Madrasan," and Raman smeared some dough onto Ishita's cheek. Ishita rubbed the dough off her face angrily and poured a scoop of flour on his head in return. "What? Have you lost it?!" Raman snapped at her. He grabbed handfuls of dough but before he could smear it on Ishita, she acted on quick reflex and grabbed his hands, making him rub the dough on his own face. "Now you've had it, you Madrasan," he said as he grabbed the container of flour. "Raman! No!" Ishita yelled as she bolted out of the kitchen. "Stop!" Raman yelled after her. They chased each other through the dining room and into the living room. Ishita tripped Raman so the container of flour fell from his hands. But as he fell, Raman pulled Ishita with him and they ended up on the floor, covered in flour with Raman on top of Ishita. "Now how do you plan to escape Jhansi ki Rani?" Raman asked grinning. "Raman! No! Please!" Ishita pleaded. Raman was in no mood to relent and he bent forward to rub his dough and flour covered face against hers.

Ishita struggled to get him to move off of her but he was too strong for her. When he leaned in towards her, Ishita closed her eyes and turned her head. His stubble pricked against the skin of her neck and in a second, the mood changed from playful to intense. As his stubble grazed along the column of her neck to her cheek, Ishita felt a trail of fire being ignited along the path. She swallowed nervously as he traced his path along her chin, just under her lips, towards her other cheek. One breath was all the distance that separated his lips from claiming hers. And Ishita was afraid to breathe. Afraid to feel what she was feeling, here, right now, whatever he was making her feel.

He proceeded to rub his dough covered cheek against her other cheek as well, seemingly unaware of the havoc he was playing on Ishita's senses. When he was done, he pulled away just a fraction of an inch to look at her. She looked silly to be honest, but his body was becoming increasingly aware of her soft curves pressed into the hard planes of his, of that tantalizing fragrance that was uniquely hers, of the irresistible temptation of her moist, pink lips that were quivering just beneath his. A wayward lock of her hair had fallen onto her face and lay against her lips. He raised himself slightly on his elbow and with his other hand, traced her bottom lip ever so gently. He could feel the tremble in her body beneath him in response to his touch and it fuelled a kind of desire in him that he hadn't experienced in a very long time. Taking all his time to feel the soft, silky smoothness of her lower lip, he moved the lock of hair away from her lips. His finger continued to trace her jawline, down the column of her neck and Ishita gasped in helpless abandon.

She'd never felt this way before. She'd always imagined this is how she'd feel if she were ever kissed senseless by the man of her dreams. In the few chaste romantic moments she'd had in her past, she'd always yearned for these feelings, had conjured them up in her head so she could feel that magic.. Of blood singing in her veins. But now, without even kissing her, with the slightest of touch, this man was evoking sensations in her that no romantic novel had prepared her for. And what was scarier was that she had no control whatsoever. And, she shamelessly wanted more.

Kissing her was absolutely out of the question. But it was all he wanted to do. It was all wrong. He really should know a lot better, especially from his past. But, right at this moment, the past, the present, the future, nothing seemed to matter, nothing seemed to exist, except of that fraction of an inch between their lips. Raman closed his eyes and leaned in.

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