Note: Not proofread again...
Chapter 21 Bala arrived a while later at 5 as the women finished all the cooking and were sitting in the living room talking about Ishita's at home job enjoying a hot cup of tea. Ruhi was sitting in Ishita's lap busy playing with toy keys busy in her own little world and Shravan was watching his cartoon. Ishita being the first to spot him, stood up and greeted him quietly. Vandita fetched him a glass of water as he asked to pick up Ruhi. She handed Ruhi to him and instantly she started to cry not comfortable and unaware of Bala. Shravan called from his room and Vandita went to him as Bala apologised for making Ruhi cry. She tried to calm Ruhi by rocking her and showing her toys, but she wouldn't stop, then...
"You little pumpkin, I'm going just eat you up!"
Ishita nuzzled Ruhi's stomach making her giggle and kissed her cheeks and nose making the infant scrunch her nose earning a hearty laugh from Ishita. Vandita looked at the two as she came out of the room and couldn't help, but wondered aloud...
"No wonder Raman married you so quickly."
"Huh?" Ishita heard her comment and wondered what she was trying to say. Caught off guard Vandita tried to explain what she was thinking...
"You and Ruhi, it's just nice seeing you two. You are mother and daughter in true sense despite not being biological related. It's so sweet. She easily calms down with you around and sleeps in your arms and everything else. It's nice to see someone take care of another person's child so lovingly."
"She is my child for me. She made me a mom for the first time, and the first time always special just like she is for me."
"There you go! You showed me again why Raman didn't hesitate for your marriage. Your thoughts and care towards Ruhi is exactly what he needed."
"Well thanks for thinking I'm the right choice. I just hope Ruhi also thinks the same as she gets older."
"She will for sure. She already thinks so in my opinion."
Ishita looked at Vandita almost frozen as she took in her words. Raman had told her the same thing and she convinced herself to believe his words, but was never fully convinced. Now this woman in front of her was saying the same thing despite initially almost refusing to believe she was married to Raman. Then was he right that Ruhi would never have a problem with her and her child? She really hoped what they said to her was true and smiled at Vandita before saying goodbye claiming Raman would be home soon and she needed to be there.
As she entered the house shutting the door behind her, she gave Ruhi a tight hug and the infant put her arms around her neck.
"Always love me like you love me now."
Ruhi cooed at her comment as if agreeing with her making her smile and walk away with her to their room.
~~~~~
She finished braiding her long hair as he walked into the room trying his bag on the bed and sitting on the chair after picking up Ruhi who was cheerfully waving her hands seeing him enter. He sat on the chair exclaiming..
"My head is going to explode!"
"Why? What did you do to it now?" she joked as she finished tying the elastic on her hair.
"Nothing these stupid investors! I mean let a person breathe and explain their situation, but nope they just go on and on. Urgh giving me a headache!" he said frustrated with his work.
"What did they say?"
"What do you think? Just their usual rantings and worries about their own profits, I mean I am suffering losses here too. I am so fed up of this!"
"Don't worry, it's just a while longer. And are you really having a headache?"
"A little..."
"Should I press your head?"
"No! It's alright, don't want to bother you."
"It's not bothering me, but seeing you like this is."
He nodded telling her she can do whatever she likes and she walked around to the back of the chair. She asked Ruhi to stay calm for two minutes and she didn't do anything, but placed her head on Raman's chest and played with the pen in his shirt's pocket. She smiled at her and Raman told her he would keep a watch on her.
He rested his head on the chair and closed his eyes as her hands ran through his hair. She pressed his head asking him exactly where it hurt as he silently thanked her in his head. His pain was going away slowly and he slowly leaned back and his head was now against her stomach. She froze right there not knowing what to do, she couldn't move her hands as they shook and she felt goosebumps having him so close to her. She always felt so different whenever they accidently come close to each other physical and she didn't know what it was and what to do to about it. She looked him and saw his relaxed face after so long. He looked like he was at peace for a while and it brought a huge smile to her face. She decided to let him be and continued pressing his head until he finally opened his eyes as he realized she must be getting tired as well.
"It's better now, thank you!" he opened his eyes and smiled at her. She took back her hands as he got up.
"No problem, at least you feel better now."
"I'm always fine." She looked at him giving him an are you serious look.
"Really? Joke of the century!"
They both shared a laugh and then he spoke up...
"Anyways I'll go freshen up and then we'll head over to Bala and Vandita's." he said handing Ruhi over to her.
~~~~~
The 4 of them sat at the dinner table that was filled with food while the kids played together near them, so they could be watched. The dinner was a casual one where they just talked about a variety of things right from politics to sports which bored the women and they started to talk about their own work and the kids. Near the end of the dinner, Vandita signalled Ishita to look at Raman who was enjoying all the food as he and Bala talked about the stock market. Vandita decided to annoy him a little and so she started...
"Bala, pass me some curry please." She asked smiling at him making Bala excited only he saw the empty dish in front of him.
"We're all out."
"Raman! You finished the whole thing?!" Vandita exclaimed.
"Well it's not my fault you didn't make enough for everyone." He casually answered back with a smirk.
"How mean! Do you know how long it took the two of us to cook all this?"
"Exactly you men are so inconsiderate. Poor Vandita was busy cooking for you two with a sick child and you are find flaws." Ishita joined in Vandita's protests.
"Oh my God Bala! The Madrasan Mahila Morcha has started!" Raman exclaimed leaving Ishita and Vandita open mouthed shocked at his comment.
"Raman you are going to get me killed. Ishita is nice, but Vandu will get me for this and you're responsible for it." Bala worried as he looked at Raman.
"Relax Bala, if she says anything, just scream maybe someone will hear you and come to help." He grinned at the scared Bala.
"Raman! Bala! You two are seriously just urgh!" Vandita said frustrated
"Raman stop it man, I am 100% dead today!"
"Good luck dealing with Vandita tonight while I sleep peacefully with my daughter and wife."
Ishita looked over at him and he took a small glance at her as he realized what he had just said. She saw him give her a look which seemed like he was confused about things, little did she know she was giving him the same look. Though he had said a casual sentence, it meant so much more to the two of them. It made it seem like they were in a normal marriage, and it somewhat reassured the both of them that they don't need to worry about unnecessary comments from others.
They came out of their trance as Bala cleared his throat and left the two looking away from each other while the other couple had a laugh at their expense. Raman changed the topic back to the food they were talking about...
"Jokes apart, the food was really good."
"Thank you! Your wife helped me make it."
He looked at her shaking his head at her stubbornness to work while she grinned proudly at getting her way around making him smile at her. The 4 of them helped clear up the table and went to go sit in the living area where they talked for a good hour about their wedding in details and they all enjoyed either remembering those moments and Ruhi's antics at the wedding or hearing about all the stories for the first time. As they were heading home as it was getting late and the kids were tired as well, Vandita and Ishita stood at the door waiting for Raman and Bala to finish their convo when...
"So Ishita, wasn't it true what I was telling you before?" Vandita asked while Ishita remembered her comment about Raman's eating habits.
"It is, but what you said was still mean!" Ishita said a bit loudly getting the attention of the two men.
"What did you say Vandita?" Raman asked curiously as the two were looking at him while talking.
"She said you love South Indian food and eat a lot!" Ishita told him.
""Vandita! I eat a lot? Then what about Bala?" He exclaimed defending himself and pointing to Bala.
"Where did I come from?" The clueless Bala asked.
"I only speak the truth. And Bala doesn't eat a lot!" Vandita claimed.
"Ishita don't listen to her, she just speaks anything. I don't eat a lot and you know it."
"She told me everything! Even how you wouldn't eat anything except Vandita's food when Ruhi was in the hospital. You should have told me before you liked all this."
Everyone became quiet all of a sudden and didn't say a word. Raman looked over at the sleeping Ruhi in his arms and just patted her head quietly as Vandita and Bala just looked at each other knowing this wasn't looking good.
Ishita wondered why everyone was so quiet so all of a sudden and seeing Raman's upset face asked him...
"What's wrong?"
He looked up at her and shook his head attempting to smile before saying...
"Nothing. Anyways Bala Vandita, thanks for the dinner. Now I have to take this sleepy head home!" He said referring to the sleeping Ruhi who had her head on his shoulders.
He asked Ishita to come as well and they started to walk back when Vandita signalled her to stay back for a moment.
"What happened to him all of a sudden?" Ishita asked knowing this was why she was asked to stay back.
"Ishita this is really important for you to know. Shagun passed away after giving birth to Ruhi. He doesn't like talking about those few months since they remind him of a lot of things. In fact I should have told you before and shouldn't even have mentioned all that." Vandita explained.
"It's okay! In fact it's good I found out now, so I won't talk about this with him. I just feel bad for mentioning all this to him today." She said the sentence only she would understand. He was so upset already about everything that happened in the afternoon and she ruined his evening as well.
"He's understanding, he will be okay." Vandita said noticing her sad face.
"I'm lucky he is so understanding. Otherwise, I probably could have never been as happy as I am today." Ishita said her thoughts aloud. She said goodbye to the couple standing outside their door and Shravan as well before heading into her house.
She entered their room to find him changed and Ruhi on the bed. He looked up as he heard the door opened and she quietly walked to the closet taking out her clothes thinking about what to say to him. She went to the bathroom to change and went over to him right as she came out.
"Raman, I know now I shouldn't have talked about Ruhi's birth."
"It's all okay you didn't know."
"So you're not upset?"
"No. Obviously I was reminded of everything, but you know it's the past and Sha...she's in a better place now."
She held his shoulder for a moment letting him be until he spoke up again.
"I'm going to sleep now."
She knew he didn't want to talk anymore and said goodnight before heading to her side of the bed and turning off the light after he said good night to her.
~~~~~~
He was woken by a loud noise and startled, he got up turning on the small lamp. He looked around and say Ruhi sleeping, but Ishita was missing. He saw the bathroom door was open and so he almost ran out the room wondering where she could be. He turned on the light in the living room and saw her in the kitchen picked up a small bowl from the floor. Startled by the light and seeing him all of a sudden, she yelled out...
"Raman!"
He walked over to her and whispered...
"Ishita?! What are you doing?"
"I'm hungry." She said looking down like a child.
"Oh God! You scared me you crazy!"
"Raman sorry to disturb you, but I'm really hungry!" she looked up at him holding her stomach. He smiled shaking his head.
"Go inside, I'll get you something."
"It's okay I will-"
"Ruhi's alone, go inside." He ordered her.
She quietly walked in to the room pouting and settled herself on the bed as he took out a container and started to shuffle through cupboards. She waited impatiently as she sat crossed legged tapping her legs and her stomach growling. He entered a good 10 minutes later with a jar and forwarded it to her. She looked at all the nuts and dried fruits through the glass jar taking out a handful and started to eat while he placed the jar and its lid by her...
"Snack on! And keep this on the night stand, so you don't have to keep on going into the kitchen."
"Thank you so much! I was starving!"
"Let me know when this jar finishes and I will get more."
"I will finish it all today!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"There goes the dieting plans." He said sarcastically.
"Raman!" she looked angrily at him making him chuckle.
"Kidding! Eat all you want!"
He went back to bed extremely tired assured she wouldn't have any more problems. She went back to bed after eating and looked at him sleeping next to Ruhi before laying down to fall asleep with a filled stomach. The trio slept peacefully until Ruhi started to whimper making them both turned around and pat her. They both had their eyes closed and didn't realize that Ishita was patting Ruhi was Raman's hand was patting Ishita's. As Ruhi calmed down, they both stopped their hands and fell asleep with Ruhi's hands at the bottom covered by Ishita hand and Raman's hand holding them both...
__________________________________________________________________
That was all! Hope you like it and will leave your feedback!
Chapter 22A- Page 116
Edited by smilesforever98 - 10 years ago
Tum Se Tum Tak
Ganesh Kartikeya
10