Chapter 15 She woke up the next morning to find him sleeping peacefully next to Ruhi. He had gently placed his hand onto Ruhi's outstretched one. She just looked at the two and smiled at the cuteness in front of her.
"He was so nervous about her sleeping next to him and now look..."
She ran her hand over Ruhi when suddenly she started to feel sick. She ignored it, but in a few moments she felt really sick almost as if she were seasick. She stood up feeling uneasy and almost ran to the bathroom. He woke up to see her running past him to the bathroom. He sat up with a start and looked next to him to find Ruhi sleeping. He got out of bed and ran over following her.
In the bathroom she thought she felt better now and looked at him standing by the door through the mirror for a second before leaning back over feeling sick again. He entered and stood next to her and she placed her hand onto his hand for support in the moment. He didn't stop her and hesitantly held her shoulder after backing off a few times. He stood by her patiently for a few minutes and as her nausea stopped, he still stood next to her as she rinsed off handing her a towel and water. He followed her quietly as she walked back to the room and sat on the bed.
"Okay?" he asked quietly.
She nodded and rested her head back on the headboard, closing her eyes.
"But I feel so gross Raman!"
"Well you're going to have a lot of fun in the next couple of months." He said sarcastically.
"Oh God! This is horrible!"
"Just remember what you will get in the end will be worth all this."
"And I'm the one that finds deep meanings everywhere." She looked at him
"Sangat Ka Asar, you know." He winked at her as she shook her head smilingly.
"Anyways, you use the bathroom first today. I have to finish up some work, so I'll do that until then."
She got up and started to walk away to the bathroom as he went over to the table to finish his office work. She came out clad in an orange saree with her hair all dried up unlike yesterday. She sat down at the vanity putting on her sindoor and earrings as he got his towel and started to walk to the bathroom. Suddenly she remembered something and stopped him...
"Raman wait!"
"What happened?"
"Your clothes!"
He slapped his forehead with his palm as she got up and walked to the cupboard. She took out a suit for him and handed him his clothes as he walked up to her.
"Stop spoiling me! I need to do my work or else I become lazy." He joked around.
"Don't worry soon you will get used to it!"
"Used to what?"
She stopped for a moment herself what she meant by he would get used to it. Did she mean he would get used to her being the room or did it mean she would hand him his clothes every day? What did she herself want to happen? Ishita you're overthinking! She thought to herself.
"Get used to me being here. So you will start remembering to take your clothes with you."
He smiled and walked away to leave her alone in the room. She looked at the mess he had made on the bed and cleared it up before taking Ruhi out. She headed to the kitchen and before Mrs. Bhalla had a chance to say anything Ishita asked...
"I can at least make coffee or tea for everyone, right?"
"Of course, you ahead."
"What do you and Raman drink?"
"Tea. And you're probably not allowed coffee right?"
"Yea no coffee for a while, so do you have juice?"
"We have all kinds, go have a look in the fridge. I should have shown it to you yesterday instead of handing you everything. You also need to know where everything is in case I am not around."
Ishita quietly walked around the place figuring where things were as Raman came out and sat down on the dining table. He opened up his laptop there as well and created a mess of papers at the table. His mother went over to him asking him to clean up this mess he created or else he will have to face consequences. He laughed at the tone she was talking and her threatening ways as he put everything in a proper stack and went back to his laptop. She saw him get something out of his bag when she sat at the table after placing his plate and cup in front of him. She watched as he took out glasses and put them on to read the fine print on his paper. She looked at him confused and shocked...
"Raman you wear glasses?!"
"I look old in them right?" he asked with a smile looking up at her for a moment
"No you look smart! But I've never seen in them, that's why."
"They're reading glasses and I only use them to read fine print on contracts, books, and other things."
"Interesting. Discovered one more thing about you today. "
"I sound like a mystery and you a detective right now."
She laughed and started to eat and he did as well while he was busy reading the newspaper. Suddenly he
"I have an important question Ishita. Do you think it's normal if Ruhi didn't wake up during the night?"
"I don't know, but why are you asking? She did wake up once last night. She was hungry and she needed to be changed."
"She did?! I didn't hear her, she must have been crying for so long."
"Not that long, I woke up pretty quick and she stopped crying soon after."
"You could have woken me up."
"I could have, but you were sleeping so peacefully and I didn't want to bother you. Who knows how many nights you have woken up to take care of her, you deserve a small break."
"I am seriously so careless! I should be more alert. What if you weren't there? Ruhi-"
"But I was there Raman. I was there for her and to have your back."
"Thank you so much!"
"A mother doesn't need to be thanked for taking care of her child and Raman don't ever call yourself careless. I don't like it when you think so negatively about yourself."
"I can say the same for you."
"That's because there are things you don't know that make me say all that."
"The same goes for me Ishita."
She chose to remain silent. If she was able to open up her past to him, then she should stop expecting the same from him at least for now. She nodded to him telling him she got what he was trying to get through, but she also added...
"Raman I don't know why you think this about yourself, but to be you are anything but careless. You asked me yesterday to be straight forward, so I will be. Raman you're a really nice guy, probably one of the nicest I have met and a totally caring & devoted family man. And because of all this I have immense respect for you. I have a feeling you don't share your past because for one it's painful and maybe because you feel like I will change my opinion about you. So let me tell you Raman, nothing will ever change what I think about you."
"Thank you Ishita. Thanks for trusting me so much and thinking so highly of me. I really wish you will always think of me like this even after finding out everything about my life."
"I know I will."
Mrs. Bhalla walked into the room making them end that conversation right then and there. They ate as they three of them discussed their plans for the day. Raman had a few meetings and would drop by during lunch and then head out for a dinner meeting. He told Ishita that he would be late and asked his mom to take care of her and help with Ruhi. Mrs. Bhalla asked Ishita if she wanted to come with Ruhi to one of her society event. After annoying his mom about the loud crazy things they do in her society parties, he told her not to take Ishita since she would get tired like yesterday. Ishita said otherwise with the fear of upsetting her.
"Ishita you have your own life and you're allowed to do what you want, say no or yes to whatever you want."
Her mother-in-law had sweetly told her allowing her the freedom to do what she wants. Given the right opportunity and after much debate in her head, she asked...
"Mummyji is it okay if I don't wear sarees for a while? Can I wear something else?"
"Is this something to ask? I don't stop anyone in this house from doing what they like as long as it's appropriate. I myself go out in western attire and wear suits then why should I stop you?"
"Mom, this is a lie. Working at the table is appropriate, then why do you stop me?"
"Be quiet Raman! I am not talking to you. There is a different set of rules for you."
"Whatever!" he said and went back to his breakfast and newspaper leaving the trio of girls laughing.
He finished eating and went to his room packing up his things and Ishita followed with Ruhi shortly after.
"Raman do you have a few minutes?" she asked
"Of course, tell me." He said still busy with his things.
"What about my job? We never talked about it. I caught up on some of my pending work yesterday, but I can't go to the office with Ruhi here. So now do I do?"
"You're lucky your husband is your boss as well. I was thinking you could work from home. Most of your work is done on your laptop and through email. The small bit of paperwork can be faxed and I am right here in case there is anything you need to give to me and you can call me to tell me about meetings and appointments."
"But can I still come sometimes, otherwise it seems so biased."
"I know, but I don't care about what people have to say. You three are more important to me." He said as he kissed Ruhi who was in her arms.
"Sounds good!"
"But no over working yourself alright?"
"Alright. Bye!"
"Bye! Not too much masti like yesterday you two!"
Ruhi squealed and waved her arms frantically as he finished his sentence and started to head out. For some reason she started to cry as he left the room, and Ishita rocked her and talked to her playfully trying to calm her down but in vain. She got an idea and walked to the balcony of their room as he was getting in his car. She called out to him making Ruhi stop crying and as she pointed our Raman to her, Ruhi started to smile again. Raman waved bye to them getting waves back from both of them and blew an air kiss to Ruhi. Ishita took Ruhi's hands and brought them to her mouth making it look like Ruhi was blowing a kiss back to him. He stepped into his car and drove away and Ishita went back inside with Ruhi.
After she finished getting Ruhi ready by giving her a bath and changing her, she went into the kitchen to make Ruhi's milk when Mrs. Bhalla entered with another woman by her side.
"Ishita this is our new maid. She will come after breakfast in the morning and will leave after making dinner. If you need anything done tell her or let me know and I will tell her."
The new maid walked into the kitchen and was instructed on her duties while Ishita went to Ruhi feeding her. As she was burping her, she got a phone call from Mihika.
"Hi Mihika!"
"Hi Akka! How are you?"
"I'm perfectly fine, how are you? And why didn't you call yesterday? Did you forget about me so fast?"
""I'm fine. I wanted to call you yesterday, but Amma said it doesn't look nice and you would be busy and other things I didn't listen to."
She giggled at her sister's words, but the conversation turned serious as Mihika asked...
"Akka are you happy?"
"Mihika why are you asking?"
"You know why. Are aunty and Jiju okay with you?"
"I thought you had believed Raman when he said he would take care of me, then why are you asking this? And let me tell you Mihika, he has lived beyond what I had ever expected from marriage. And mummyji is just like Amma. She gives me the freedom I want and lets me be in my own little world, but takes care of me and just so I don't work, she does everything herself. And then the reason I am in this house; Ruhi. She has totally accepted me as her mother and I spend so much of time just being with her. The past two days I have spent with Ruhi and Raman are probably the happiest days in my life. Do you still want more assurance?"
"No I don't. I got your answer loud and clear, a bit too loud." She said referring to Ishita's defense tone.
"Mihika I understand you're worried, but please trust me I am lucky enough to have been married into this house. They treat me like I have been part of their family since forever and I never feel like an outsider with Raman around." She said as she remembered Raman's words about her being family.
"Akka, I promise I won't question Jiju again. I mean it!"
"Thank you Mihika!"
"So what else is happening there?"
"Nothing really. How's your work and what happened to the party you were going to go to?"
"Oh that well..."
The two sister spent a good hour talking to each other as if they hadn't seen each other for years when in reality they had been away from each other for only a day. During the phone call Ruhi had fallen asleep in her crib as Ishita rocked it back and forth while almost whispering on the phone. She finally hung up the phone when Mrs. Bhalla had knocked on her door and stood at the entrance of the room. She mouthed "Lunch is ready." To her and she headed out turning on Ruhi' speaker monitor and making sure the door was open enough to hear Ruhi if she woke up.
The two women ate as they had a conversation about Ishita's work and the many things Mrs. Bhalla was involved in around the community. As lunch came to an end, Mrs. Bhalla wondered aloud where Raman was awaken worry in Ishita. He was a very punctual person except for that one time when he was to come meet her parents and if anything was the matter, he would have surely texted her or called. When she thought of it, he didn't call her or text her at all today. She was being anxious now and worried about where he could be. Luckily she didn't have to wait long since he showed up at the door a minute later with his mother exclaiming...
"Raman puttar come in. We were just talking about you, may you live a 100 years."
"I have no wish to became so old Ma." He said earning a playful slap from his mother while Ishita wished to shut him up that moment.
For some reason that minute had scared her a lot and his words weren't helping. Seeing Mummyji in the room, she didn't say anything otherwise she would have blasted him for saying such stupid things. Soon her momentarily anger faded away as she saw him looking tensed about something. When offered lunch he refused saying he wasn't feeling hungry and walked into the room. She knew something was wrong so she followed him into the room.
"Raman you alright?"
"Yea."
"Something seems wrong."
"It's nothing."
"You tired?"
He nodded positively and she walked out leaving him in his own world of thoughts. She came back 10 minutes later and he was looking out the window. She went up to him and handed him the cup saying...
"Raman...have some tea. It'll help your headache."
"Thank you."
He quietly took the cup from her hands and went back to the table and started typing rapidly on his laptop. Something was really bothering him otherwise she knew from his nature he would have told her not to work so much and asked her not to do such things from now on and he didn't. Along with that he didn't even play with Ruhi cheerfully like he always did, he just gave her a smile kiss as he had walked into the room. When asked he refused to say anything and said it was just fatigue. She left him alone and opened up her own laptop and got busy with her own work. As she opened an email from their Mumbai branch she realized why he was worried and upset ever since he had come back home...
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That was all! Please like and leave your feedback! Am looking forward to reading it!
Chapter 16- Page 75
Edited by smilesforever98 - 10 years ago
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