Chapter 22A She woke up early the next morning and opened her eyes to see Raman and Ruhi's peacefully sleeping faces. Though she couldn't point out what it was, there was something about seeing the two of them in the morning that made her really happy. Maybe because he looked so peaceful and happy in his sleep or maybe it was the way Ruhi would cuddle near him, but something was there that she wished to see this sight in her front of her.
As she started to get up, she felt something on her hand and saw his hand on top of hers holding Ruhi and her together. She didn't realize when a faint blush appeared on her face despite knowing this was probably completely accidental and even feeling kind of uncomfortable at first. But then his touch was different, a good different. Even in his sleep he was gentle and soft she thought smiling as she felt his touch on her hand for just a while longer. As she noticed the time, she tried to carefully pull her hand out from underneath his, but ended up causing him to stir in his sleep. Once he settled down again with his hand on hers, she tried pulling out her hand with complete concentration, only to hear him mumble in his sleep...
"Go to sleep baby."
She stopped instantly and looked shocked at his sentence as for a moment she assumed the words to be for her, but in that moment she didn't feel happy or angry about him calling her baby which she didn't expect from herself. Only then she looked at Ruhi and realized he was talking to Ruhi and probably she was the reason they ended up...holding hands in their sleep. She leaned over and kissed Ruhi's forehead gently before trying once more to get her hand out. This time she carefully held his head looking up at him every few second making sure he wasn't waking up and managed to move his hand aside so hers was finally free. She took one more look at the sleeping father daughter before getting up.
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She walked into the kitchen quietly trying not to wake the other two up and remembered doing this last night, but getting caught by him in return. She smiled remembering the look on his face when he saw her in the kitchen wandering like a thief. She brushed off yesterday's incident and started to get their breakfast ready as it was getting pretty late. She opened the fridge thinking of what to make when she remembered his likes from yesterday. And so he was getting a South Indian breakfast just like he liked it. As she cooked, she remembered the way he was laughing and joking around yesterday. She loved seeing that carefree and smiling side of his so much thought it was such a rare sight to see. And then she remembered how his smile disappeared because of her, she knew it was completely her fault and he had told her the same, but she couldn't help feel bad because she knew it would hurt if someone talked about something that reminded her of Subbu. Although he wasn't mad at her, she felt bad and wanted to do something for him and so she got an idea...
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"Wake up Raman!"
"No I want to sleep!"
"Raman! Get up, I have your breakfast ready."
"Ishita please...5 minutes!"
"If you don't get up now then...then no breakfast for you." She hoped her foodie husband would wake up with this threat of his and sure enough he got up lazily moments after she said that.
"Let a person sleep for a few minutes! Anyways I'm up now, so why not get ready." He first complained and then listened to her eventually. Then his eyes fell onto the clock...
"It's 8?!" he exclaimed jumping out of bed. She knew he would react like this and simply handed him his towel and clothes. He ran to the bathroom since he knew he had to attend a meeting at 9 and rushed to get ready. She giggled at his antics in a rush to be on time and let him do what he was doing while she picked up Ruhi who had just woken up.
"Ruhi, today we are going to make Papa really happy. But I need your help, okay?"
The child clapped her hands together and smiled at Ishita while she carried her to the cupboard picking out a floral blue summer dress for her.
"Papa's favourite daughter in his favourite colour today!"
She told Ruhi in a childish tone as the latter cooed softly pointing to the dress Ishita held. She quickly got Ruhi ready before he would come out of the bathroom and then made the bed placing Ruhi on it. She rushed back into the kitchen and came back with a tray in her hand. She placed it on the bed and took Ruhi with her and sat in the vanity with the infant in her lap.
He came out of the bathroom rushing out to pick up his watch and files, but was stopped by Ishita who finished putting Ruhi's hair into a tiny ponytail at the top of her head.
"Relax Raman, you don't need all these things today."
"Ishita, there is a lot of work I need to get done today and I'm going to be late for my meeting. You have the breakfast, I will grab something on the way." He said all in one go.
"Shh! Gosh Raman just breathe for a moment."
"What?!"
"You are not going anywhere today. You will stay home with Ruhi and me. No office today."
"And how can you decide that?"
"Because Mr. CEO Raman Bhalla, I think you're forgetting your wife also happens to be you secretary whose job is to handle your appointments and work schedule. So I have the power to cancel and shift your meetings and also adjust your schedule so you can get a day off and a much deserved break."
"Wow! You are truly something! And may I know why I am getting a break when I have the day after tomorrow off anyways?"
"Because Raman you need time off. You're stressed over the office work and it's clearly taking a toll on you emotional as well and everything that's been going on at home with me isn't helping either. I want you to spend some time with Ruhi and just enjoy like you did yesterday."
"So you did all this for me?" he asked almost finding hard to believe someone was actually doing all this and thinking about him so much. But he had to believe when she nodded her head at him and asked him to calmly sit with his darling daughter and eat his breakfast and actually enjoy it.
They all sat on the bed as she had brought their food there and they three of them sat eating happily. Raman and Ishita laughed at Ruhi's attempts to get out of Raman's arms and reached for the delicacies in front of her. As they finished eating, Ishita spoke up...
"Now we've had our breakfast, but now it's Ruhi's turn."
"Where's her bottle? I will feed her." Raman looked for her bottle, but couldn't find it anywhere.
"You will feed her, but not milk...baby food now."
She brought him a small bowl of the baby food she had prepared for Ruhi since it was about time she started eating other things to fill her stomach besides drinking milk. He held Ruhi close to him and happily brought the spoon close to her mouth... but then backed off sadly. She wondered why he stopped since he was so happy a moment ago and asked him to feed her, he looked at her...
"No I'm scared."
"Raman..." she said his name sadly as she watched this man who adored his daughter to bits not being able to feed her, something he had been waiting for so long, since he was scared to.
"Ishita what if she's not ready for it?" he asked scared of hurting her or doing something that wasn't good for her.
"It's just baby food. She can eat it." She tried to explain everything would be okay.
"Ishita I want you to feed her." He said looking her forwarding the bowl. She was overwhelmed he was going to let her do this, but she wasn't selfish enough to take away this moment from him.
"I know you're scared, but she is going to be fine."
"No. I want Ruhi's mother to feed her. I want you to give her the first spoon because the mother always has the first right on her child. It's your right to feed her first and then me. And trust me she will only eat it calmly from you."
She looked at him with gratitude and tears of happiness forming in his eyes. She thanked him silently as he smiled at her handing him the bowl. She slowly took it after having a second thought about how he would feel after having her do this instead of him, but he took her hand and placed the bowl in it so she knew he really did want her do feed Ruhi.
She slowly forwarded the spoon to Ruhi and gestured her to open her mouth. With some persuasion from him and her, Ruhi opened her mouth and finally Ishita fed her. They watched as she ate the food and squealed loudly asking for more as she finished. They both clapped their hand along with her with smiles on their face and small tears in their eyes. As she continued feeding Ruhi, she took a small moment to look at him...
"Thank you Raman."
"No, I should thank you for this moment..."
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That was all! Please like & leave your feedback! Will look forward to reading it!
Chapter 22B- Page 123
Edited by smilesforever98 - 10 years ago
Jhanak
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