Ishra SS: Let The Flames Begin! -pg 21 (completed)

Hello YHMians, back with a new TS...the crappy sauten- sautela beta track has made me write my own imagination. Ishita wants to jump into the well but I am sure Raman would never want this. SO this idea stems up from that belief. Errors honge because not proof checked...so excuse the errors!

Here it is...

"Let The Flames Begin...Two Can Play That Game"

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Part 1

Raman was a frustrated man today and the reason being his wife, the love of his wife. He had to entertain and bear Shagun, the only woman he detested in life due to his own wife Ishita. He, at times didn't understand what ran in his foolish wife's mind. Was she really so selfless? Was she real because all he could term her as was ethereal!

It all started this morning when Shagun and Adi left for Mihir's place for the weekend. She had informed that she wanted to spend some time with her brother and support him in this phase where he had lost his love too. She said she had been selfish and just thought about her own life but didn't realize that Mihir was going through the same crisis and heart break. She had seen Mihir's state during the new year party and decided to visit him. She seemed genuinely concerned for Mihir and so none of them in the family disagreed.

Raman was in fact happy that Shagun was showing such good and selfless traits. He felt happy thinking that this would transform Adi as well.

At office, he was suddenly struck with an idea of taking Ishita and Ruhi for an outing. They had never spend quality time together ever since all this tension started. With Adi and Shagun around at home, the atmosphere was always tense and different from the usual. He had no qualms in taking Adi out with Ruhi and Ishita but at the same time, he knew that it wasn't so easily because Adi would want Shagun to accompany and would also raise protests over going out with Ishita. The whole situation and the entangled relationships were quite complex and difficult to handle as a whole.

So he had decided to handle it on different planes, in parallel or in sequence but not to let one weigh down or stop the other. He had his own ways to bond and gel well with Adi but his scheme of things would never include Shagun in it. And in parallel, he would never let a scratch over his bond and relationship with Ishita and Ruhi.

So today, it was a good chance to take them out and spend time with them. He instantly booked 3 tickets for a good kid's movie and also planned a dinner after the movie.

He had called up Ishita and told her the plan which she had happily agreed too. So he was shocked when he saw Shagun and Adi at the cinema theatre.

Only thing he felt like doing was to storm away from there, straight to home, to her and ask her, "What the hell is wrong with you paagal madrasan?"

But he couldn't do any of it because his son stood smiling at him and waving at him to grab his attention. All he could do was helplessly walk to their side and take them into the hall. Shagun said something about Ruhi not being well and so Ishita sent her and Adi in their place but he didn't pay heed to any of her reasons. All he contemplated was Ishita giving up on him one more time for Adi's sake like she had done for the family photograph, the cake cutting and the earrings. She never asked what he wanted but took decisions for him. He was angry yet he couldn't blame her completely as the complex situations demanded this of her. Adi's mental state and his insecurity regarding his parents was emotionally pushing her. She was being driven to giving up and that in turn showed up as her magnanimity. He snapped from his thoughts momentarily as Adi held his hands while they waded into the hall through the darkness. He felt delighted that Adi was slowly inclining towards him. It was a good sign that Adi was trusting his father but Raman so wished that Adi realized Ishita's goodness as well and treated her equally as his mother. Raman couldn't help wish that Ishita and Ruhi were there too in place of Shagun.

The rest of the movie passed in a blur, Adi's laughs seeing the movie, Shagun's whispering something to him, Adi's demands for popcorn and cola. He obliged every demand of Adi. He sure was happy at Adi smiling and being happy but was this what he wished for? They were literally creating a parallel world for his sake. A world which was plain illusion, a virtual bubble which could never stay forever.

Will Adi really be happy with this temporary illusion? Was Adi not capable of handling the reality? Wasn't he mature enough to understand the relationships?

He wasn't sure of any of the answers. He could do anything to make his son happy but then he was sure that he could never let his madrasan walk away from him like this. He had to do something drastic and stop all this.

He wanted to skip the dinner plan but Shagun played her card aptly and told upfront that Adi was quite excited at the thought of having dinner with his parents. So he drove to Adi's favourite restaurant. Shagun went on rambling about their past life when they had spent such moments together. Raman could see through this woman in front of him. He could sense where she was headed to. Well he should have known her better but nonetheless. It wasn't late even now. He would tackle her and give it back to her in her own games.

He hurried up the whole dinner and was soon driving back home. Shagun sat with him while Adi had taken the back seat. Perhaps another master stroke from the conniving woman sitting beside him to take her place as his wife.

She wasn't silent either and was trying her best to make him relive their past private moments. The moments which were part of their life when he adored and loved her more than his own life. She was the most precious person of his life once but now, she was the most detested, most insignificant person in his life. He smirked when she said, "tumhe yaad hai na Raman? Hum aksar aise outings pe jaate teh...we used to watch every new film...tum chupke se tickets book karke mujhe surprise karte teh..."

He had to reply now, "Of course Shagun, mujhe sab kuch acche se yaad hai..."

She smiled happily as she felt her plan worked and he responded to her. But he soon added, "aur woh saare din bhi yaad hai jab tum Ashok ke saath hoti thi but mujhse jhoot bolthi thi ke tum apni maa ke saath ho"

Her smile vanished and she didn't know what to say further. She quickly composed and placed her hand on his gently, "Sorry Raman...woh sab..."

He snapped her as he didn't want any talks or explanations for those lies as it no longer mattered to him, "Yeah right...Woh sab baatein, acche ya bhoore, koyi maayine nahi rakhte...Because nothing concerning you matters to me any more Shagun...So just let it be..."

She didn't talk anything further. She said to herself that she had to give it all more time. No point in trying to heal and aggravating him further. She felt confident that she would be able to take him into her side slowly and eventually. She even felt sure that Ishita herself would hand him over to her just for Adi's sake. She was making every move of hers just to push Ishita to that decision.

Raman pulled up the car near their apartments and as they walked in, he stopped just outside. Adi and Shagun also slowed down.

Shagun spoke up, "Adi tum andar chalo...main aathi hoom" and she intentionally trailed back to walk with Raman. He said before they entered, "Shagun, Adi is my son and nothing can change that relationship...Aur usi tarah Ishita meri biwi hai...nothing, absolutely nothing can change that reality either..."

She looked at him perplexed why he was saying that now while he added, "Uss haqeekat ko Adi bhi nahi bathal sakta Shagun...so aage se koyi bhi game khelne se pehle hazaar baar soch lena!"

Yes of course he knew her so well. So she wasn't surprised that he realized what she was up to. She grinned sarcastically as she knew that she had nothing to hide now.

"You know me so well Raman...We are perfect for each other...isiliye soch rahi hoom ke Ishita ko iss game se baahar kar dehte hai!"

He smirked back meaning that he already knew all her game plans

"Ishita bohat boli aur acchi hai Shagun...so yes, she is too nave for your tacky games..."

She couldn't comprehend what his intention was while he went on to explain, "Ab usske side se main khelunga...You will have to face me Shagun...and you do know that Raman Kumar Bhalla plays to win... ...So beware before you make your moves"

He turned to walk away when he heard her say, "I know Raman and I am ready"

He sarcastically grinned and walked in saying, "Good night!"

He had challenged Shagun confidently but he did know that his Jhansi ki rani needs some hard lessons in this whole game. She was Jhansi ki rani for namesake and just for him. All her guts drained away before others. He had to pep her up and get her ready against Shagun's evil plans!

He can't let Ishita become vulnerable and weak before Shagun.

He went inside enquiring about Ruhi. Ishita replied, "Fever uthar gayi hai Raman...She is sleeping"

Raman nodded and walked to the stairs. He just stopped at the foot of the stairs and said, "Ishita agar tumaara dinner hogaya toh uphar chalo..."

Shagun stood stunned at his naughty invite to his wife.

Ishita looked enquiringly wondering why he said that. She also blushed noticing the naughty glint in his eyes. She had thought that he would be angry but then he didn't appear angry and she was left confused. He added as an explanation, "aise kya dekh rahe ho Jhansi ki rani? Apne biwi ko apne bedroom mein nahi bhulaa sakta kya?"

She rolled her eyes while he winked at her naughtily and walked up signalling her to come up soon.

He swore to himself that he would act as a shield for his wife and would never let any evil plans hurt her.

I'll Be Alright, I'll Be Alright I'll Be Alright

Tu Hai Toh Tedi Medi Rahe
Ulti Pulti Baatein Seedhi Lagthi Hai
Tu Hai Toh Joote Moote Vaade
Dushman Ke Irrade
Sache Lagthe Hai
Jo Dil Mein Taare Vaare De Jagah
Woh Tu Hi Hai, Tu Hi Hai
Jo Rothe Rothe De Hassa
Tu Hi Hai Wahin

Jaane Kyun (jaane Kyun) Dil Jantha Hai
Tu Hai Toh, I'll Be Alright
I'll Be Alright, I'll Be Alright

[To be continued]

I dont know how far I can make this appear real or tactful but couldnt stop from writing this part. Hope you will like this...

So how is it? pls do reply...PMs later!