Part 14
Aaj, Kal, Parso..
(Flashback continues...)
Before Ishita knew what hit her, Raman effortlessly picked her up in his arms. You cant walk. You poor thing, no problem... ill carry you.' His voice was more than loud.
The girls behind drooled, gushing. Ooh, lucky Ishita. You can carry me too, strong man! Watch your back or we will!' boomed the loud catcalls and whistles.
Ishita cowered, humiliated. I'll kill you Raman! Put me DOWN!' her order sounded more like a plea.
Apologies then!' Raman ordered, thoroughly enjoying her squirming form in his arms.
Ishita measure the distance to the college gate, too damn far. They would pass the staff room and canteen.
Fine! Sorry, now put me down!' through gritted teeth,' she begged.
Say please!'
Please!' she bit out tightly.
Sorry Ishita, you are too heavy. You will have to walk!' Raman said, putting her down. He purposely flexed his arms drawing attention to his buffed upper body. Around the, the puddles of spit, rapidly, increased in numbers and sizes.
All bloody baboons! Missed the train to evolution!' Ishita cursed. Fuming, she strode towards his car and waited. After waving several times to his tittering audience, Raman got in and they drove away from the college.
Ishita immediately vented, I can't believe you are such an egocentric, cocky, arrogant"
Don't forget, I was here to help you and you know I did,' Raman said, his laughing eyes surveying the pretty spitfire. Angry dark eyes, errant strands of hair fluttering against flushed cheeks were captivating. The fact that she is so clueless of her own look makes her even more alluring, Raman thought. He put his eyes back on the road.
Thank you.' A few minutes later, Ishita said, gruffly.
You're welcome.'
It dawned on Ishita what she had almost pulled off. Oh my goddd! Can you believe it? I was actually able to speak in front of a crowd for the first time ever!' her voice held awe.
Well that wasn't really speaking it; it was more like headless chicken dance, if you ask me.' Raman poker faced, offered his opinion.
Ishita was simply too, happy to be offended. Raman seriously, thank you. I could not have done it without you. I owe you big!' mindlessly, she patted his hand on the wheel.
The car had stopped on a red light. Raman grasped her hand and leaned in, his face almost touching hers. Ishita's eyes startled, widened.
Then I guess its time to pay up,' he murmured, his fingers stroked the soft skin on the insides her wrist.
Even though she desperately wanted to, Ishita could not looked away. For a few seconds, they stared at each other. A jarring horn distracted them. Raman straightened putting the car back into drive
Ishita blinked several times turning to stare at the passing vehicles with glazed eyes. What would have happened had we not been interrupted, she wondered, timidly. She touched her wrist, which she had never imagined to be so sensitive to touch.
You could begin by dishing digits?' raman said, clearing his throat.
Digits, whats that?' Ishita asked, still not all quite there.
Digits as in phone numbers of some of girls in your college, I have the names.'
Ishita turned to look at him; Raman was now wearing sunglasses. She saw herself reflected in them. How does he see me? The thought popped in her head to be instantly shooed away.
Sure do tell?' she prompted.
Raman, staring ahead, rattled off several names and descriptions. Ishita's not my type. Remember CNN, ESPN! Lassi in a wine glass! Raman kept reinforcing the thoughts, fighting hard for self-control, which had almost slipped when she had touched him.
Her entire sheltered life, Ishita had never come across anyone like Raman - self-assured, intelligent, good looking and so polygamous. Ishita could not refrain herself, Wow, twenty numbers! Why are you so much into girls?'
I don't think my parents would approve if I was into boys,' Raman bantered.
C'mon, you know what I mean?' Ishita's face held equal exasperation and curiosity.
What's the harm? I don't force or lead anybody on. The other person is very clear about my honorouble intentions or lack of them,' Raman replied.
Virtually everyone has a past, which usually features one or two or maybe five people. But you have had and are with so many. Raman, you could start your own country!'
One or two or max five! Where do you get these numbers from.. BSE?' and don't believe everything you hear and read. Most of it is nonsense.'
really?'
Yes really! Anyway, since when did you care?' Raman countered.
I just don't understand all this numerous or simultaneous affairs and relationships. You probably don't even believe in marriages either?'
Why do you want to know?' Raman teased, grinning boyishly, as he glanced at Ishita.
Because we are still minutes away from home. What, are you ashamed to talk about it?' Ishita provoked.
After keeping quite for several of minutes, Raman finally said, I believe in marriages and feel those should happen only once... and with the person you are very sure of. But I don't believe in love!'
You don't believe in love!' Ishita face held absolute shock.
At her expression, Raman smirked. Yup I don't. however, I strongly and completely believe in lust, sugar coated as attraction, and deep friendship between a man and a woman. So, the day I find someone whom I am deeply attracted to and have a lot in common with, I just might settle down,' Raman replied, articulating some very private thoughts for the first time.
Raman usually kept his reasons and rationale to himself. In his arrogance, he had decided that no one was cool' enough to be let loose in his mind. So far his non-conforming and bohemian ideas, had lead to some nasty and some quite amazing encounters.
Hmmm... well to find out or form a deep friendship, you have to be with a person... one person, for longer than a few months,' Ishita said.
Raman disagreed. Who says? If and when it has to happen it can happen in day, weeks.'
Ishita fired next. You believe in destiny?' as mean cant talk enough about sports and imagined conquests, women inherently trust their lives to animals (zodiac signs), and cards which they cant even read themselves.
Nope, but I believe in opportunity. I think every being gets an opportunity or a choice at every crucial step of their life. To get the right things, you have to do the right things.' Raman was taken back at his own words. Damn! I sound freakishly similar to the old man, he thought. Near this girl, things were just tripping out of his mouth.
Ishita comically, scratching her forehead, asked, Are we still talking about the same thing?'
Raman chuckled; his eyes and dimples crinkling, I don't think so. Can we ever be on the same page?'
Heavy fundas dude!' Ishita mocked.
Raman amicably, mocked her right back. Tell me about it. What about you? You must be a total believer in love. Daniel steel, Linda Goodman and all that!'
I believe in love but the kind which doesn't exist,' replied Ishita, only to become extremely self-conscious. I had opened my mouth to take a pot-shot at Raman, why did I say that instead, she wondered.
Raman gave her a muddled look. What does that mean?'
Nothing... really nothing!'
C'mon, dish ASAP. I told you stuff dint i?'
Shaking her head, Ishita vehemently muttered, No ways!'
Fine, this car is going nowhere!' Raman, abruptly, brought the Mercedes to a complete standstill, bang in the middle of the rushing traffic. Thankfully, they were not rear ended; however, loud horn and voices blared.
Drive Raman! Everyone's glaring at us,' Ishita hollered. In the overwhelming cacophony of horns, he tossed her an imperious challenging look.
Ishita gave in. Fine, aaj, kal... parso!' she, lobbed the three random words, loudly between them.
What?' Raman asked, baffled.
Ill elaborate. Please drive first.'
When they had driven some distance away, Ishita heavily confessed, I believe in unconditional, absolute love. The kind, that lasts you a lifetime, even if the person does not. Today, tomorrow, dayafter! Aaj, kal, parso!' Ishita kept her face aaway from him. The revelation was too personal. Ishita would rather have someone catch her with minimal clothes.
Wow! You are even crazier than you look. Where did you pick that line? From a fortune cookie or the ass of a truck?' Raman exclaimed.
Ishita flashed him a quick wry smile. You wont understand,' she said.
Raman kept glancing back at ishita's grave face. He finally asked, You actually believe in that?'
Afraid so!' Ishita voice held no shimmy or shake of uncertainty.
Have you ever been in that kind of relationship?' Raman inquired, unconsciously tensing.
Nope.'
Raman warned, Be careful Ishita. Don't fall in love with a wrong person or you'll die of a broken heart.'
Ishita agreed, I agree. That's why I have choosen arranged marriage for myself... take away please.'
Silence stretched between them. Either the four-door swanky luxury car suddenly compresed or Ishita and Raman felt an inordinate closeness to each other.
Raman increased the cooling. That's a great idea. Arranged marriage might just work for me, too, with someone of similar tastes, and a background. Its probably simpler than finding that person on your own,' he voiced lightly.
All the best! We're home,' Ishita said, flummoxed the hurt engulfing her at Raman's words, someone with similar tastes and background.'
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Ishita, are you there? Earth to mars, earth to mars! Psst he's gone, come out woman!' Shagun's urgent summons jolted Ishita out of her reverie.
Emerging out of the stall, Ishita launched a full-scale hug on her friend. Thank you Shags! You majorly saved my backside just now.'
No sweat! But what a jerk Raman is; hitting below the belt like that?' Shagun's tone and face, both equally stormy.
Ishita splased some cold water on her sweaty face.
Anyway what were you doing in there, for so long?' Shagun asked, gesturing at the stall. Building a house?'
Nope, just remembering one. The words darted in Ishita's head, yet she flippantly replied, shitting bricks honey, shitting bricks!'
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Precap - I hope Raman isn't playing us?' Shagun voiced a thinking crease between her eyes.
what do you mean?' Ishita questioned.
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