Hello everyone.
Sorry sorry sorry! I am late.
But one nice uodate Raman ke aane ke khushi pe! 😳😆
Do pour in your feedback n likes.
Love you all
OSJ 🤗
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Chapter 7:
"Meeting you was fate, befriending you was a choice but falling in love with you was beyond my control."
Raman felt his heart surged with anger and pain. Storming towards her, Raman grabbed her by the arms and pulled her closer.
" She is not dead! That woman cheated on me, had an extra marital affair with my boss and left me with a six months old child in my arms to enjoy her life in that bas***d's arms", he roared and pushed her away unceremoniously, leaving her shell shocked.
"I...I am really sorry..." Ishita stuttered in a small voice.
" Oh please! I don't need your sorry nor anybody's sympathy. I am over all that." He was fuming. He hated it when people would sympathize and felt sorry for him.
" Then why are you still hurting?" She asked calmly.
His mouth tightened and Ishita could see, even in the dim lit storeroom how his face was clenched in anger. Without notice, Ishita saw him reached out and before she could stop him, his hand was on her chin, forcing her to look at him. His face was merely inches away from hers.
"Your counseling service is the last thing I would want from you. You can surely do better Ishita."
How can Ishita miss the double entendre!
Instantly she blushed while his eyes went to her lips. She swallowed the lump in her throat with a silent prayer in her heart. Murugan! I hope he doesn't kiss me!
It was already bad enough keeping up this mimicry of self control but Ishita knew if those firm, warm lips would descend on hers then her precious self control would blow to bits. She closed her eyes to take in a deep breath but only to snap them open right away. The man and his ways with words!
"You will need a cardiologist at this rate. Your heart is thudding in your chest." He taunted softly, the initial anger replaced by a glint of amusement in his eyes.
Acutely embarrassed, Ishita pulled away only to find herself grabbed and pulled forward by him.
"Why are you always running away from me? Afraid that you might give in?"
In full challenging mode, her eyes meeting his steadily, Ishita replied back, " I am not afraid of anything or anybody Mr Bhalla."
" Point noted Jhansi ki Rani. Next time we meet, you just prove it how brave you are."
" There will be no next time Raavan Kumar.
" I told you what we have between us isn't yet finished...
" That's just a matter of opinion...
" No. A matter of fact. Now you better go back before I lose my self control. You know very well how it ends up between us when you challenge me".
His voice was husky knocking Ishita sideways and they were so close that Ishita could feel him as his body pressed against hers.
Yes she knew just too well. She therefore pulled back and hurried out of the storeroom to climb the stairs with trembling feet.
Minutes later Raman was following her steps but his body language giving away nothing of his mental state. He banged the door of his bedroom and locked himself inside. He knew it! When it came to her, he would think of something but would end up doing something else. He went out to clear his mind but had come back more confused and restless. When he saw her in the society compound he genuinely wanted to thank her but ended up in the storeroom.
The woman was bad news!
In fact all women were bad news and he was furious with himself for forgetting that lesson. Why did he let her get under his skin? Why did he allow her to get too close to him? But the deeper question was when did it happen to him that he didn't even notice?
Caught by surprise! Raman smiled bitterly.
After Shagun he had promised himself never to let any woman tamper his emotional well being. He had had a lot of casual flings with women but he had stick to his guns - no commitments and emotional attachments. But with Ishita, it had been different from the beginning. He felt attracted to her from the onset. He was intrigued by her, by her inner goodness which seemed to seep from every pore of her skin to reflect on her face...
Things between them evolved naturally. It was as if the cosmic was conspiring to help them to bump into each other. But the catalyst was on that Friday night when she was returning back from the clinic late in the evening. Raman had spotted her walking hastily towards the taxi stand unaware that three men were following her, their lusty eyes lingering on her curves which that simple bright maroon cotton kurti she was wearing failed to camouflage. Raman instantly drove pass the men who immediately changed gear and moved away.
He was just some feet away from her now...following her in his car. He could see how edgy she was feeling by her back all stiff.
***
Ishita heard the beeping of a horn. Of course she had no intention of looking around. She headed off and within minutes was aware of being followed by a car, cruising along with its headlights beaming down on her. Ishita forced herself to stop. She spun around and... gaped.
Raman was on the pavement beside his car and was watching her. Storming towards him, she spluttered furiously. "What the hell do you think you are doing? You scared me!"
" What the hell do you think YOU are doing in the middle of the streets so late in the evening?" Raman asked back. "Do you have any idea how dangerous can it get? Some lusty guys were following you but I guess you were too immersed in yourself for noticing?"
Ishita looked at the direction he was pointing and saw the men under a tree, spying on them.
"My car broke down and...
" Yes I saw that thing you call a car just round the corner minutes ago. Get in."
Grrr the man and his bossy attitude!
Ok he was there to help but...how dare he offend her by ridiculing her car? That car was bought with her hard earned money. Ihita was not happy. She so wanted to refuse the lift but she had no other option. He opened the passenger door and pushed her in and slammed the door.
"Very macho!" Ishita snapped as he sat down next to her. The engine was still running with that distinctive purr made by big powerful cars but he wasn't moving off. He was looking at her with an amused look. That made Ishita even more annoyed. "I didn't like your comment about my car."
Ishita looked on speechless...Raman Kumar Bhalla was laughing aloud.
" Ishita Iyer you are hilarious! That silly and funny red thing breaks down every alternate day and you want me to praise it? Thank God that thing is not yellow in colour. People can mistake you for Mr Bean on the road."
He laughed again and this time Ishita chuckled. One last look at each other, their eyes glistening with amusement and they drove off to Ishita's place in silence. It was on that night that he officially asked her out at her doorstep when she finally called him by his name.
- Thank you Raman...for the lift.
- You are welcome but a thank you is not enough I am afraid. What about dinner tomorrow evening?
- Oh...I am...sorry I can't.
- Boyfriend?
Raman held his breath hoping against hope that boring Abhimanyu Raghav was not a special person in her life.
"No. But I just don't want to risk it after that coffee date. What if you never turn up?" She replied back tongue in cheek.
Their eyes met. They both smiled. She was witty. He was impressed once again. This woman was surprising him every time they met.
- This time I am coming to pick you up. I promise.
- Ok! See you tomorrow then.
7:30 p.m! Ishita was still putting on her mascara when her phone beeped. He was already there and waiting for her. One last glance at the mirror, a nervous Ishita took her clutch back and closed the door behind her.
Ishita's heart thudded when she saw him. He was simply ROYAL in black. Like a Prince. Ishita immediately brushed away the thought. Fairy tales didn't exist, did they?
Raman watched her closely as she walked towards him. A royal blue chanderi silk salwar with matching yellow and blue chiffon dupatta around her neck. How elegant! Her beautiful long and silky hair was open and was being caressed by the light breeze and Raman realized that his fingers were itching to do the same. She had very discreet and minimal make up but her face was bright and glowing with her cheeks all rosy. . His eyes drifted to those cherry like lips. How would they taste, Raman could not stop himself from wondering.
"Hello," Ishita greeted him softly putting a stop to his mental assessment...
"Shall we?" He said charmingly while opening the passenger door for her.
They reached their venue after an hour drive and Ishita was left open mouthed. Away from the hustle and bustle of Mumbai, Raman had booked one of the finest Juhu beach hotels in Mumbai right on the oceanfront. Once they seated, Ishita gushed.
"I love the sea!"
"I know".
"You do?" Ishita was perplexed. "I heard you talking animatedly about the sea and the beach last time with doctor Raghav" Raman confessed.
Ishita looked at him incredulously. "Were you listening to our conversation Mr Bhalla?"
"Guilty as charged Miss Iyer".
He gave her a cheeky smile and Ishita grinned at him. Minutes later, the waiter was there with their food.
"Raman...I forgot to tell you...am a veggie...
" I know".
"You do?" Ishita cocked her eyebrows and listened to his explanation which brought a smile on her lips.
"Yes. This time just an intelligent guess. Most tamilians I know eat vegetarian chicken that is paneer, so that's wat I ordered for you.
"I am impressed!"
Yes she was. The lean mean machine she once encountered was now a thorough charming gentleman in front of her and had a great sense of humour too. Raman on the other hand found himself enjoying her company way too much than he had expected. It has been ages that he had found a woman's company so enjoyable. She was simply REAL.
11:30 pm at her doorstep of her apartment...
"Thank you for a great evening", she said in a soft voice. "You know that I don't accept simple "thank yous", he replied back naughtily but watching her intently. Her cheeks had developed a beautiful hue, marred by a flick of hair. Raman did what his fingers had been craving to do since the beginning of the evening. He slowly removed his hand from his pocket and gently tucked the loose strand behind her ear, his fingers delicately caressing the edge of her ear and ear lobe with his eyes scrutinizing her face. Unable to hold his intense gaze, Ishita finally looked away.
"You are welcome." He replied with a smirk. "When are we meeting again?"
What was he thinking? What was happening to her? Weren't things going to fast between them? She barely knew him...but still...he felt like no stranger...
"I don't know...I think that we should not rush into..." Ishita struggled to find the correct words but...
" I know what you mean. I don't want any commitment from you. I lead a busy life. I have no personal life and I don't miss it also to be honest. I like you and enjoy your company and if you don't mind we can hang out with each other sometimes".
"Call me when you are free. I like your company too." She answered before he turned away to go.
Ishita watched his retreating back and lightly run her trembling fingers over the burning spot on her cheek where his fingers had brushed her skin seconds before She remembered that sheer look of intensity in his eyes and felt a shiver running down her spine.
Back in his car Raman was flabbergasted. What was happening to him? He had never gone out a woman more than once and there he was multiplying dates with her. He hadn't realized what he was doing. He only knew that he felt a strange excitement when he saw her flushed pink...a warm feeling inside him...a sense of elation...
He didn't know what was these new and never felt before feeling meant but he found himself eager to experience it.
***
Ishita let herself into the house quietly and went in her room locking the door behind. She wanted some time alone with herself to register what had just happened in the store room. Shagun cheated on Raman and that was the reason why he was what he was- bitter, uncommitted and so...hurtful and with trusting issues. No wonder when she confronted him when she found out about his wife, the blood in her veins had freeze with his coldness and bitterness. She had felt disgusted for having feelings for him.
Ishita shivered thinking of that night...the night everything ended between them...after living with him for six months what she never lived with Subbu with a decade.
To be continued😳😳.
Edited by omshreejaanu - 10 years ago
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