RuhiIshRa- Final part p46 Pg 96 - Page 41

Thank you Shavi..that means a lot to me.

😡

Anyways I'm so glad you are back babe..and Raman could do with a hand right now...

I kind of like this Ashwin...quite a dude!

Nice one hon 👏

Coffee crime and punishment

Raman off late walked with more than a spring in his step.

He had never been in a situation with family around to assist him with his travails. He usually never let them help or lived in denial. Ishita had changed that about him as she had a few other things in his life.

He walked around like a teenager trying to grab his wife at any given moment and tried his best to ensure none of his nosy family caught them eyeing touching or cuddling each other at the entrance of their service apartment, shopping malls cafes or simply anywhere in the house.

Abhi Mihika and Raman met regularly over the past week to brainstorm their way out of their mess. He felt weird he had secrets that involved neither his wife or Mihir.

Life played out that way.

Ishita was taking a course on infant oral health from next week. Raman loved watching her stir her sambhar and read from her tablet, make notes when he drove her to work or talking to herself as tried to get her head around something that she didn't get at the first read. She walked in and out of the washroom half clad most of the time with a book or tablet in hand. Only Ruhi's needs did not take a back seat. Raman was put on the back burner. He was the only one making an effort to connect, kiss or cuddle her she usually looked lost when Ruhi was not around. Hard working Madrasan his chest puffed with pride. He was only used to women in his household who cried, shopped or dressed up not that he was judging but the idea of a bedding his intelligent Madrassan usually knocked his socks off.

The empty still house he walked into, and his JKR sipping her coffee sitting on the kitchen top was just what he wanted to see. He reached her from behind scooped her up spilling her coffee on his shirt and kissed her and intended carrying her up the stairs to their room.

'Yeh le' he cribbed and set her down when he heard a door upstairs slam shut.

Ish iski mummy ko bolna iska a blood test karva de todhi anemic lag rahi hai...Ashwin walked to the sofa stretching out on the sofa with Ananya on his chest.

Raman motu is all yours to lug upstairs...he finished while Ish flung a teflon spatula at him and Raman shook with laughter.

Seriously aap dono na ..go upstairs and I shall keep your family guessing' he threw the spatula back at Ish still lying on the sofa.

'I hate you' Ishita mumbled as she followed Raman.

Yeh tumhe itna taang kyun kartha ...waise I'm happy he does...Raman pecked her cheek.

'Raman you have no time for me these days' she cribbed.

Me..who is walking with books everywhere? I dont touch books off late.

I'm preparing ahead for my course I will fail otherwise ..pouted Ishita.

'Chall' he said pulling on his jeans and a Polo over that delectable body 'lets get out of here while we can..' he said as he pulled her along.

Aur tu baachon ka kyal rakhna...Raman tossed a smile at Ashwin.

Sure aur Shagun ka bhi' Ashwin winked this time at Raman.

W*F Ishita ran to punch his cheek I am going to find you a bride...'

'Please do ...jo lambi ho...may be 5.10/5.11, butter chicken banati ho, divorcee ho and jo bol nahi sakthi...Right Raman...'

'Dog' Ishita hit him again...

'Chal yaar ...paltan aa jayegi ..'Raman was getting impatient.

He was picking out his ties in M & S when he briefed her about Ashwin's offer to help with Adi and Mihika.

I can't be bothered about Mihika Raman but Adi ..Ashwin's really good but he can be cold and unemotional.

That Ishita is precisely what I need help with ..I'm far too invested with Adi and I can see I'm not able to reach out to him where it matters. You trust him right?

I will with my life and Ruhi and you! she laced her arm through his smiling up at him.

Pata hai Raman jab Subbu mujhe mandap me chodke gaya tha ...she said leaning on Raman's shoulder later that night in their bed ...appa and amma called him to tell him about the break up. My family was supportive. He was in some far away place. He called me the next day spoke about how cold it was where he was and how he would not come to meet me till I sent him a picture of my daughter. I forgot all about it till Lohri. I was just thinking of him and he turns up with Ruhi in tow from school. I hated him, still hate him for not hugging me and letting me cry. But now I realise I needed that push to stop feeling sorry for myself and move on with my job.

Accha hua tha na...we may never have met if it wasn't for Ruhi...she bit his ear.

Humm and I'm not letting you go anywhere now. Raman gathered her close.

But like I told you he could be too matter of fact...dil nahi hai uske paas ...before she was kissed into silence.

You are the sweetest Neelu..

I enjoy Ashwin too...we have had too many of the fair and handsome kind this one is straight out of a romance..tall dark and handsome and irreverential. We all love a rebel with a cause don't we?

❤️

thanks fr quick update...

Thank you and welcome to the FF. Really appreciate your comment.😊

Thankyou Shavi..

for not giving up on this FF and swear I shall try to be prompt with updates.😊

Darkness before daybreak

Raman had developed a genuine liking for Ashwin he seemed to be all that he wanted in the corrected version of Romi.

Smart, sensible,very observant and disciplined. He could be cold but that was Raman too; till Ishita had come along, so there was hope.

Adi was now pretty much putty in Ashwin's hands, they were roaming around like conjoined twins if Adi wasn't in school. The Bhalla house was witness to a lot of silent drama between Ashwin and Shagun, he always complimented her for omelettes, muffins and chicken curry she never made.

Gave Adi the impression that the Shagun, Ashwin was talking about was someone else not his mama! Ashwin never said that but let Adi deduce it!

Ashwin made it a point to take her out for Coffees right under Adi's nose which forced Adi was to reach out to either Bala Sir or Vandu for Maths and Science and Ishu for his projects. While Shagun would kiss him a bye at the table when he was gluing/painting something with Ishita. Her hair all over the place tied up with a pencil, pasta boiling in the kitchen while neelu her right arm would be stirring the soup and sorting out clothes.

Today was especially chaotic. Rui had an arm strain from her taekwondo lesson and was cranky. Shravu monopolised Toshiji because his patti and amma were busy with the unborn child. Ishita was truly split in the middle trying working through with Adi and soothing Ruhi with her hair flaying around her pretty face, and she was craving for a hug from her husband.

Ashwin sat on the sofa playing peek a boo with little Ananya as he texted. Shagun walked across to Adi ruffled his hair and said "beta Ishita will help you..I have something important beta bye! Call karna agar kuch chahiye to" she blew a kiss and smiled at Ashwin. They were going to grab a coffee before he had to go to meet someone.

Ishita scowled at Ashwin rukho neelu bana degi tumhara coffee aur tum meeting ke liye chale jao'

No No Ishita, don't interrupt he wants me to meet his contact smiled Shagun at Ashwin and they headed out.

Raman walked into a quiet, still living room.

Ishita was tidying up the kitchen after her bed time struggle with Ruhi. " "Bachon ko sambhalna difficult nah hai I know. But it takes time you know. it's not something you can outsource. You will know it when you have children of your own you dog!" she said yawning into her phone. She was ready to sleep standing but had to get the breakfast stuff sorted before she could think sitting down.

Raman smiled knowing that it was Ashwin on the phone.

Dinner?' she smiled at Raman.

Sure...bohot bhook lagi hai.. he replied.

Raman aapka endless coffees and these dead of the night dinners will give me ulcers.. she cribbed.

I have told you a million times not to wait up for me...

But Aaj toh I was really busy you know.. Look at me I haven't even showered after getting back from the clinic...she whimpered.

Her sweaty face, crumpled sari and tired eyes told Raman the tale she did not mention.

He tore out a small piece of Roti and fed her a spoonful of the vege she had made...

I know you hate the smell of paint.. he smiled looking at her nails that were clean but still had tints from the paint they had used for Adi's project.

Thank you ..she smiled as they headed out to the stairs after dinner.

App please check on Adi before you come to bed ..she goaded... tomorrow is a big day for him in school be supportive - she nudged as they reached their bedroom.

Raman was letting himself out of Adi's empty room when he met him outside the door.

I was with Romi chachu Adi said a half truth.

Raman smiled took a quick look of his project. Offered to help him with his print outs and helped him pack his bag for the following day. Shared how badly he had bungled his first presentation at college.

Goodnight beta, sleep tight and rock tomorrow! Raman said.

Adi smiled as he closed his door. Scrolling through his phone to see if Shagun had left a message for him.

He heard a soft knock on the door ...sat up wondering if it was his mom.

It was close to 12 Raman smiled at Ruhi who was at his bedroom door wanting to be picked up...' muhje Ishima ke bina need nah aa rahi hai" she wailed.

Ishima ko dekho so rahi hai...aap papa ko hug karke so jao..he smiled.

Aap se gussa hoon..aap mere haath check karne nahi aye the..

Beta tum so rahi thi jab mein tumhe check karne aya tha. You wont be strong tomorrow if i woke you up right? Raman smiled.

Papa aaj Ruhi bad girl thi I troubled Ishima a lot because of my pain and I did not like to do maths homework. She pouted.

Say sorry to Ishima..she'll forgive you tomorrow...

and I will become a good girl again right..say sorry and correct your mistake right papa?

Ab so jate hai Ruhi..tum bhi Ishima ki tarah bohot bolti ho...he tickled and Ruhi laughed softly while ishita slept on the otherside.

Adi wished he could be his fathers left ...Ruhi was on his right next to Ishita.

All that he had seen eariler in the evening - Ishita and Raman at dinner as he was searching for his headphones behind the sofa when his father and his wife thought it was just themselves at the table and now Ruhi and his dad made his eyes well up with tears.

He was the outsider!

They were nice to let him in.

He was glad that he did not have to face what Ashwin had to - wait for someone to pay for his school.

He would promise Ashwin Sir tomorrow that he would work hard to earn good grades this year. And would ask Ishita and Bala sir for help.

" Don't worry bud..your mom is it M's place tonight. I'm sure you know. Best of luck to tomorrow and sleep tight mate!" beeped his phone. A text from Ashwin ..that made him smile and slip into sleep.

Mihika had a load of dirt now on Ashok. She wanted to meet Abhimanyu at his place with Ashwin. Should she call Raman she wondered? Tomorrow was important for Adi!