RuhiIshRa- Final part p46 Pg 96 - Page 43

Birds of a feather flock together?

Mihika stretched and smiled when see saw this " What if we are grateful for everything?" and a coffee cup below on her phone.

I would love to Ashu...she replied as she kicked her comforter off her and hurried for the day.

She was back at work since last week as Mihika Iyer but Mihika Ashok Khanna to the world. There were a two who welcomed her with open arms and many who judged her!

Work kept her busy and importantly gave her ideas.

Suraj and Ashok were happy that she was away most of the day and they were left to themselves to plot, connive, work and make money.

Raman was neck deep with pending issues and tough decisions.

There was a remarkable change in Adi. He mingled more with Dada dadi and Ruhi. He hugged his father a lot more now after that evening at Nirvan's a week ago. And right now even managed a thank you and smile at Ishita when she handed him his pan cakes at breakfast, before Ruhi and Adi left for school with 4 bags and a big smiles. Shagun barely got a smile from them, not that she missed it. She was busy reorganising her day to fit a trip to the mall after her spa appointment with her a friend who was visiting Delhi.

Raman I think it's time for Adi to get braces' Ishita held Raman's hand as she spoke.' I will get Arthi to get fix up with Dr.Batra and text you..please get Shagun to take him'

Uska naam mat lo yaar subah subah' he replied squeezing her hand as they walked to the car park heading out for their work days.

Tum aaj mere saath chaal..apne gaadi rehne do' he smiled not letting her go.

apka ka meeting nahi hai' she asked catching the key he threw at her.

Tum gadi chalao please..I want to check my emails'

aacha to sexy driver chahiye tha mera saath nahi' Ishita smirked. Aur kya' he smiled dropping off his laptop at the rear letting him into the passenger seat of his precious car, that she was forbidden from driving all those months ago!

I can't believe I managed to get here' Mihika teared up holding Ashwin's hand

galti sab se hoti hai...and you were born to make mistakes that one can possibly make in a life time ..' he let himself come closer to her on the sofa to hug her to his side.

Raman smiled at Ashwin as he joined them at the coffee shop. Jiju aap' croaked Mihika. We have left you alone for too long Mihika and you got into all this nonsense because of my son and ex-wife' he spat. and Mihir' she continued and came clean on how she got tricked by Ashok and Suraj - Ruhi and Mihir.

I swear I'll kill that bas***d' raged Raman.

Do you know why Ishu has all that she has today that she was told she can never have after Subbu?' asked Ashwin inconsequentially.

She had the guts to pick herself up and go on doing what she is passionate about - caring for others and life turned for her. You decide what you want to do and do that. If you want to start afresh come with me , army wale brave hote hai...there may be someone who can take you on and may be keep you under check' he said.

no I'm like Jiju, I want to be bigger than what I lost because of A K. I want to take him to the streets.

Jiju Ashok has inherited his fathers company. He has given up some equity and his partners are not really happy with his business practices. His brother can never have any legal standing in the company because he has been barred for unethical business practices. With 3 new contracts he has to give up more equity for investments!

'Jiju this is my plan I only need investors'

I will roast CEO Ashok Khanna' she swore as she passed her iPad to Raman.

I'm impressed Mihika..I can point you to the right people but I can't get involved directly for obvious reasons' Raman said

I'll be with you ... actually this where Abhi can ease it for you speak to him.' Raman smiled.

Tumhe meri behen hona chaiye tha..tum kahan apni akka ki behen nikhli...waise where did you graduate from' Raman asked.

Roast him, come and join me...I'll retire' said Raman aloud.

Thought to himself and take my wife for our honeymoon 10 years from now! Haath lagti nahi hai yaar..poor thing she barely has time to breathe' he empathised in his head.

Ashwin had news for Raman too, he told him all that Adi witnessed at Abhi's place. Raman understood his son's apology last week was for everything that Adi was inadvertently been party to.

Raman was heartened that his son's withdrawal from Shagun was deliberate and not coincidental. It rankled him that Adi was polite but was not open or accepting with Ishita.

He dialled his wife. Ishita can you cancel all your appointments without losing your job?' he muttered.

Smiled wickedly at Ashwin and declared into his phone My back is killing me I'm at the Maurya Sheraton's coffee shop, no one is around really can you come and get me??'

Teek hai i'll get to the lobby jaldi aana' he dimpled.

Main na railway station me Rehta hoon...no time with Ish you know'

Please spare me the details" Ashwin threw up his hands smiling.

She is a doll isn't she' Ashwin continued

But you always think she's not suave and she's fat'

Oh no haven't you seen it? she is always caring and prim and proper she scowls only when she loves you' remarked Ashwin.

That I can vouch for' agreed Raman but just for the record she does not love you'

Got you jealous husband' Ashwin punched Raman's arm

By the way when are getting married'

I'm still looking for...humm someone like that ..he pointed out to a leggy lass entering the place when they were heading to the lobby to book a room for Raman!

Raman was busy drumming his fingers waiting for his key card at the reception.

He remembered how terrified Ishita was at the last hoax about this accident, he called her and quickly told her he wasn't too bad just that he was looking forward to going back with her. Saachi?' she asked incredulously. Jaldi aao but dont be stressed' he smiled.

That made Ishita blush and she too kind of looked forward to it.

Stopped on the way, ditched her sari and changed into a simple dress and walked with a huge smile into the lobby. pata tha bahana tha" she smiled reaching for his hands.

Raman flushed as he bundled her away hand around her waist.

She guessed where they were heading and why.

Felt happy and anxious as Raman made car wiper like movements on the inside of her right wrist as they were walking up.

no interruptions today' he hissed as they stepped into the room.

He hugged her tight tipping her insides. Ishita was now really comfortable with Raman but all this physicality was still new to her.

Raman I'm hungry' Ishita tried weakly speaking against the column of his neck as she was inhaling this mornings cologne on him.

Her insides were now jelly and she loved the way Raman held her as he chuckled into her neck.

Almost on cue they were interrupted and Ishita's eyes widened when she saw food being brought in.

muhje pata tha ...i know all your excuses Ishita' he raised his eyebrows at her surprise.

He sat on the couch scrolled through his messages before he silenced his phone, put his hand out and asked aloud 'what is troubling you?'

kuch nahi she lied

bolo Ishita we can never move forward if you are not going to let me in...

She sat wringing her hands and biting her lower lip.

Raman earlier Shagun never really bothered me but...

I told you we can move her out someplace else..

Nahi nahi... it's not that...her voice trailed into silence and she fidgeted some more.

wo...wo she continued

Raman saw raw pain in her eyes that made his heart freeze. She was not strong enough to talk about it so it must be about herself. He surmised.

Bolo Ishita..he encouraged her softly.

She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.

Not me then he sighed in his head!

Raman..you Raman ..i she went on.

ishita it's normal to be shy' he whispered.

Will things change Raman what if I bore you...

What ...he was flabbergasted as he stretched back to wrench her chin from his neck.

Ishita i need to know what is going on to be of use here..he said firmly.

Muhje koi experience nahi hai...and I'm not sure may be i'm not really attractive?? she was now crying.

Are you mad' do you even know...how hard it has been for me having you around and always out of reach??

Doctor ho ab to you should know he said as he pulled her up to hug her again and she felt a poke in her belly.

They fell on the bed giggling.

His hands were all over her and he moved into her with a big smile.

She took him in and felt like she had never ever felt in all her life.

She felt just right, when she woke up after what felt like peaceful eternity, smiled and got up to get dressed.

When can we do this again' he asked.

"right away' she said making a long streak with her forefinger from his chin all the way down to his tummy.

Hours later she was at the mirror brushing her tousled hair into submission pulling restlessly at the knots.

Raman hugged from behind, kissed her on her shoulder watching her in the mirror as she fought with her hair.

She turned in his arms leaned across and kissed him on his lips. ' Thank you" she smiled. WOW I should booked this room the day Shagun landed at our place..we should not have wasted so much time he grinned.

Later that evening they had reached home, settled into their usual routine. Ruhi's schoolwork Adi's test prep.

Raman sat around with the kids or at the sofa staring at Ishita while she spun around the living room, minding Adi and Ruhi, watching Neelu get on with dinner, chatting up with Mummyji, making a snack for little Annanya.

Ashwin walked in with Sharvu, raised his eye brows at Raman's wide cheesy grin and headed to the kitchen to grab Ishita by her elbows. He turned her around flicked her nose. She knit her eyebrows, shook his hands off and moved to Raman with the coffee he had asked for. Ashwin followed asking her why she appeared flushed and demure. She ignored him and asked him to leave her alone. He sat down next to her on the sofa and the arm rest forcing her to move closer to Raman put his arm around her shoulders and whispered Ish fused fallopian tubes do not make you an incomplete woman. there is more to a man than just fathering children Subbu was an idiot, no actually you were lucky'

Ishita nodded. She turned to look at Raman's eyes they were calm serene pools of clarity with a faint smile tugging at the ends of his lips.

She touched his cheek; that she had mauled earlier in the afternoon gratefully with a heart felt smile.

Ashwin turned the TV on got Ishu to take the kids busy with dinner. News at 9.00 featured a Public Interest Litigation filed at the High Court questioning the poor quality of tetra packed food marketed by Ashok Khanna industries and the new contracts that company had won bribing clients! All thier assests were now to be re-valued and the company's board meeting scheduled later that week would be tricky for Ashok Khanna. The crackdown hand begun.