Laying in bed, staring upwards at the ceilings, Ishita was reflecting about what Raman had told her about Siddhart. He surely wouldn't have fabricated that story but had he embellished what was basically hearsay to suit his purpose? Whether she chose to believe him or not, it was food for thought.
The next morning when Siddhart called to apologize for the previous night, Ishita was polite and formal. He also wanted to meet her for lunch but Ishita immediately made some polite excuse and declined the invitation.
"What about this evening?" He insisted
"Listen Siddhart I am not interested in...in flirting...I thought I made that clear when we met at your sister's place." She answered brusquely but instantly felt bad when he countered in a sober and reasonable voice that he had no such intention too. "I am sorry if I came on too strong, it was just nice to meet someone I feel I can relate to," he said making her feel terrible.
Ishita finally found herself accepting to have coffee with him after work.
When they met, they had coffee in an atmosphere of relative amicability. No innuendos from him, no lingering looks, nothing to suggest that Siddhart Verma was an unpleasant, cleverly camouflaged Don Juan. By the time they were walking towards her car, Ishita felt relaxed but was surprised when he informed her, ruefully, that his time in Delhi was up.
"Already? I thought you were here for two months!"
"So did I! But apparently there's some urgent business that I'm specifically been asked to do." He replied back disappointedly.
"Still, you'll be glad to get back home." She proposed nicely.
"Not so glad to leave others behind." He replied ambiguously and Ishita gave him a vague, uncomprehending smile.
Siddhart left Delhi the next day and things returned back to normal for Ishita. Ruhi kept visiting her and Muttu Swami after school and she didn't bump into Raman for a couple of days. Later she learnt from his daughter that he was busy with some court matters and he had been going out early in the morning with Devika to come back late in the evening.
Ishita had listened to that piece of information with an expressionless face, at least she thought but...
She was getting ready to go to bed one fine night when Mihika came in her bedroom. They talked about work and other trivial things but things shifted gear when Mihika asked about Siddhart and his sudden departure.
"I dunno Mihiku. He got some unexpected business is what he told me."
" Akka can I ask you something?"
Ishita who was brushing her hair immediately looked up from the mirror, sensing Mihika's awkwardness.
"What is it?"
"Is there something going on between you and Raman Kumar Bhalla?"
Ishita blanched.
"What are you saying?"
"Akka! I saw the way he looked at you when he came last time and the way you were addressing him, with so much familiarity. I know you went out with Ruhi and him. And I also noticed how your expression would change every time Ruhi would mention her dad."
The two sisters look at each other. Ishita was flabbergasted and then acutely embarrassed, when Mihika asked her tentatively,"Are you seeing him?"
"Mihika there's nothing between us!"
She was not lying. It was over between them, wasn't it?
"Then why did he take the trouble to meet Siddhart Verma?" Mihika asked firmly.
"WHAT?"
Ishita was flabbergasted to know that it was Raman's hand behind Siddhart's sudden departure. Mihika informed Ishita how she bumped into Shreya, Siddhart's sister, in the mall, in the afternoon. She was very cold to Mihika and then told her how Raman Kumar Bhalla came to her house to intimidate her brother and even threatened to ruin him professionally if he would not stay away from YOU Akka!"
Ishita was now lived! How dare him? Throwing away the brush, she dialed his number and as soon as he picked up, roared on the phone,"WHERE ARE YOU? Meet me in the storeroom NOW!"
She didn't wait for his reply and rushed outside while Mihika looked on shell shock. She tried to stop her but in vain.
"I will tell you everything after I settled this with that Raavan!"
She rushed out leaving a speechless Mihika on the doorstep. She had never seen her Akka so angry.
When she reached at the bottom of the stairs, Ishita was already panting, her cheeks were as red as the red kurti she was wearing, her hair was going all around her face, blown by the cool wind outside. She opened the door of the storeroom and slammed it with a bang.
"I thought that I was the only one who care a hoot about what people would say..."
"Oh shut up! I am not here to enjoy your dry incisive humour!"
She approached him and took him by his collar, shaking him with all her might."How dare you?"
"What is wrong Jhansi ki Rani?"
One close look at his face and Ishita was all the more infuriated. He looked the least perturbed and seemed amused. Ishita gasped as his arms snaked around her waist, colliding her on his chest. "Four days without seeing me made you that desperate? If I knew I would..."
She immediately pushed him away and charged,"who give you the permission to threaten Siddhart Verma?"
The glint of amusement in his eyes were replaced by...flint.
"I told you. The man was a womaniser and..."
"So what?"
Ishita knew that she was being unreasonable. Deep inside she knew that there was some truth in what he was saying but...She had no intention of bowing and scraping and thanking him for interfering in her life.
"Stay out of my life, you understand Raman Kumar Bhalla!" She yelled
"Or else what?" He asked tightly."What will you do? Go on tell me, I'm dying to know."
He was now out of himself and he grabbed her arm tightly making Ishita winced in pain."I have never seen you as angry as you are today. Not when you found out about Shagun not even when I called you gold digger." He hissed, his temper rising with each passing second. "I can't believe that you have already find my replacement in such short time lapse. Or is there more than my eyes can see? Don't tell me you are one frivolous and fickle woman Ishita."
Raman had immediately regretted uttering those words as soon they had escaped his lips...as soon as he saw those tears threatening to spill from her eyes...as soon as she wriggled and freed herself and left without a word...
He closed his eyes and let out a long exasperated sigh, ruffling his hair. Him and his anger management problem!
Why did every discussion have to end up like this with them? Why did he always end up saying things that he didn't mean at all?
Standing outside, letting the cool breeze of the night cooling and calming him, Raman sighed again. Of course he knew the answer. She had managed to get under his skin. He had missed her terribly when she left him...he would roam in his apartment and imagine her there, tidying his room...her smile, the way she used to touch him, the way she would let him love her...they had haunted his nights in Mumbai.
Seeing her again had made him realized how much he still wanted her. It had infuriated him to think that she had even consider another man to be in her life. Blinded by fury, he had again tried to hurt her to ease his own pain but...
She had not piped up a word or lecture him but had left silently. God that hurt terribly! Raman flinched.
That was enough! Raman told himself. It was time to clear all misunderstandings between them and woo her back in his life because that's where he wanted her to be. When she was with him, he was a different man. She would calm him down when he was ready to burst after a wrong dealing or after an encounter with a nasty client. For the first time, after Shagun, his perceptions about women had changed. She was selflessly loving...she had the right and balanced doses of of emotions in her...she was the right match for him and then...there was Ruhi.
If there was one person who could pick up the pieces of his broken family and build it again, it was non other than Ishita.
The next day, when Ishita came back from work, she was surprised to see Mr Bhalla, Raman's father leaving her house. Perplexed she went inside and inquired about his presence.
"He came to remind us that we have a small gathering at his place tonight regarding some society issues." Her father replied back. "Ishu, food is there ok! You have your dinner on time. Don't wait for us." Her mother informed her.
"You too are going Amma? I thought you didn't like Mrs Toshi..." Ishita was surprised.
"Oh I still don't like her. Too loud she is but it is not about us but about our society."
Ishita decided to spend some quality time alone because it was not everyday that she had the house for herself since Mihika was out with Mihir too. After a hot bath, she changed into her green kurti and white legging and brushed her long hair, keeping it open. She had her food and then resumed to her bedroom to read. She hadn't finished one chapter yet when the doorbell rang.
One look at the clock...8 p.m.
Her parents were back? Her father had said that they would be late...may be World War 111 was declared there with her mother and Mrs Bhalla in the same room...Ishita chuckled and walked towards the door, a small smile still lingering on her face when she opened the door...only to disappear when she realized who was standing there!
"What are you doing here?" She asked with shock all over her face. Without a word, he pushed her gently inside and closed the door behind him, "I am here to apologize."
"Raman I don't need your apology. Go away! My parents would be here any moment..." Ishita said in a panic voice.
"They won't. They know I am here."
"WHAT?"
"You heard me. It's me who invited them home."
"WHY?"
"To talk about us. I wanted to ask their permission to marry you."
"WHAT?"
Ishita immediately felt weak with her heart ready to ditch her anytime. The man was hell bent on giving her a cardiac arrest it seemed. What was he talking about? She stood motionless, her senses tuned to him, listening to him, speechlessly.
"I told our parents that we met each other in Mumbai and we were friends. I told them that I..I like you and want to marry you. They have no objection...
"BUT I DO!" Ishita finally managed to come back from her comatose.
"That's why I am here. To make you change your mind. To woo you back and I won't go away till you don't accept." Raman stated unfazed."Listen Ishita! I am not here to fight with you. I am here to apologize. I hurt you back in Mumbai. I messed up badly. I always do it when I am vulnerable and upset. And then I regret my behavior badly just like last night. That man is a scoundrel and I won't let him around you at any cost but...I am sorry for hurting you by words I really didn't mean.
They looked at each other and Ishura could see that he was genuine but...
"You can't hurt people and then regret...I am not a toy." Ishita retorted and gasped as he cut her in and pulled her to him, imprisoning her in his arms."Ssshh...you talk too much. Let me do it for a change, please."
His eyes boring in hers, his breaths fanning her face, he whispered, "I know you are not a toy and I am relieved that you are not one. I wouldn't want a toy as wife. I want a real woman, one who would manage me and my temper and there is no one else who can do it better than you. Will you marry me?
Ishita would fight with all her might with the rude and fuming Raavan but she was no match to the one in front of her. She found herself stuttering unconvincingly," why will i do that?"
"Why won't you do that? Kya kami hain mujh mein? I am a successful man, young and handsome and...I don't leave you indifferent."
What an annoying man he was! His overconfidence and arrogant attitude didn't go well with Ishita who replied back defiantly, "You flatter yourself Mr Bhalla!"
"I am just stating the fact Ishita. Your heart wouldn't drum so much if you were not attracted to me. Your cheeks wouldn't flame like they are doing right now..." He brushed his thumb over her hot cheek, his fingers brushing away a lock of hair from her hot and flushed face.
"You can deny it but your eyes can't. You like me, don't you?"
Ishita was turning into a puddle gradually but...
"Forget about me Raman. Why would YOU want to marry me?" She asked stubbornly. He turned silent for some moments and Ishita thought that he would run away again.
"I am ready to move on. I want to start a new chapter in life. To let go of the past. My parents had suffered enough. I want to give my daughter a stable family life and you are the only one who can do that."
Ishita was now really troubled and released herself from his hold to stand in front of him, her arms bracing herself. She was suddenly cold.
"You don't know everything about me Raman. You talked with my parents. Did my mother tell you about the bitter truth of my life?"
She was sure that her mother had conveniently omit that she would never be a mother but he surprised her. "Yes she did and about your broken engagement too."
Ishita's eyes watered. He knew the truth and it didn't matter? "We already have Ruhi. She loves you and you will be the perfect mother for her."
A mother! Ruhi's mother! She loved the little girl so much. She had brightened her life when she came back from Mumbai, lost and heart broken. She would love to be a part of her life but was it enough?
His emotions were conveniently locked away as usual. He was talking about her feelings, about his daughter , his family stability with her sharing his life but what about him? Ishita thought morosely.
"After Shagun's betrayal I had decided that women were opportunists and I had spent years carefully constructing my life around that assumption. Then I met you and my life changed but still I chose to be in denial because I was still not sure about you...about us...and I was also scared to let down my defences. You see I vowed not to let any woman come close to me and then you came along, with your glorious innocence and faith in human nature and I found all my principles being gradually eaten away at the edges."
It was not easy for a man like Raman Kumar Bhalla to be so vocal about his feelings and to admit openly his weaknesses and Ishita felt her heart warm up to him again...
"When you found out about Shagun, I tried to escape before all that carefully nurtured cynism turned a pile of ashes. I hurt you but ended hurting myself the most. And then you walked out on me. I felt as though I was punched in the stomach. I never thought I would see you again but I did and I messed up things more because I was angry with myself for still wanting you. When I saw you with that Siddhart Verma I went berserk. I realized that I couldn't stand the thought of you with somebody else."
"Good!" She only answered with a straight face.
"Witch!" He exclaimed." I suppose you know what I am saying." He said ruefully.
"No! Tell me what you are saying?"
"I love you, Ishita." His ears went all red when he finally muttered those three golden words. "I've always loved you even when the possibility of that never crossed my mind. I love everything about you. I want you back."
Ishita felt a fierce, wild exultation and it showed in her eyes as she looked up at him, no longer under the pressure to try and hide her...love.
"Will you marry me NOW?" He repeated soberly and she nodded.
"But first tell me about Devika. I've spent hours agonizing about her."
"Devika? She is a close friend. Were you jealous?"
"What do you think?"
"Well you never showed it", he said, his eyes glinting." And after all the trouble I went to arrange for her to come to the apartment to have the file so that you two would meet and then for you to see her in my house here in Delhi, in the hope that you turn green and would run back to me..."
"You beast!"
"You have yourself to blame! I was going mad because of you."
She laughed and he made a husky voice, pulling her against him. "I don't want you to misunderstand our friendship though. She had always had my interest at heart and same for me. Her mother just passed away two months back and it was me who forced her to come here to look after our Delhi branch to be close to my family. She is family for us."
He leaned forward, seeking and finding her mouth with his while his hand rested lightly on her back. His lips brushed hers lightly to devour them and forced them to give him more access and when his tongue mingled with hers, Ishita finally et go of all her reserves and kissed him back with equal passion, a passion she had tried to stifle but which would manifest when he was close...when he would touch her...
When they finally broke apart, she was flushed and her lips were all red and swollen. He brushed them with his thumb and she closed her eyes, her heartbeat erratic.
"You always make me go crazy when I look at you after a kiss." He whispered, his eyes dark with passion. She opened her eyes to look at him. "You are a beautiful sight after being kissed!"
Blushing profusely, she only hid her face in his chest. He pulled her from him and ran her fingers in her long and silky hair, fixing it and putting it behind her ears.
"Now you look decent enough to be presented to my family."
"Huh! Now? I...I can't go like this..."
"They are waiting. I told them to give me one hour and it took me..."he glanced at his watch, " exactly 50 minutes, 20 seconds. Nine minutes, forty seconds saved! Time is money for a CEO."
"You devil!"
She smacked him on his chest but laughed when he pulled her to his chest for a bear hug. "Let's go!"
"Are you sure Raman?" Ishita asked timidly.
"I have never been so sure in my life Ishita!" He replied back confidently.
"I am not sure that your mother likes me much."
"But my mother loves me much and my happiness means the world to her. Don't go by her loudness. And believe soon she will adore you just like we do, Ruhi and I. Don't go by her loudness and brashness. She is very good at heart."
"I guess she is. After all she is Raman Kumar Bhalla's mom!"
To be continued...
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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