Ishra FF ||A Contract Of Love|| Prologue ~ Chapter 24B - Page 97

Originally posted by: nitii

are we getting an update today😃

Originally posted by: smilesforever98

Probably yes. I'm almost done writing it, just need to wrap up my idea and write the last bit.

Hey everyone! Chapter 23B is all ready to go! And the next chapter will now only come after the 25th once I am done my last exam, so you all will have to wait until then. Also I want to mention, I feel like this story is going at a really slow pace right now and I'm thinking of speeding things up, so let me know if you feel the same way. Anyways here is the next chapter...hope you all like it!

Chapter 23B

"Raman..." she called out hesitantly.

"Ishita, listen I-"

"I just wanted to tell you lunch is ready." She cut him off not wanting to bring up their previous conversation and having him talk about something he couldn't. She didn't want to see him struggle as he tried to tell her what he had been keeping to himself. So to avoid him getting hurt, she walked out of the room giving him his space.

This wasn't supposed to happen, he thought to himself. He never wanted to upset her or offend her in any way. He just didn't have it in him to talk about what the problem was. And now it seemed like she didn't want to talk to him anymore. He sat down on the chair as fresh tears made their way down his face. He had messed everything up once again. She was mad at him and was avoiding him and she had her reasons. She had been open enough and trusted him to let him at least know a little about what she had been though and he couldn't do the same. He couldn't tell her because he was too selfish. He didn't want to lose that respect and trust she had on him, he didn't want to lose the friend and the companion he had found in her. He was being selfish once again...

~~~~~

Their lunch was completely silent where they both didn't even bother to look at each other. Raman thought she wasn't going to like him talking to her today after how much he had disappointed her whereas she avoided starting a conversation as she already regretted pushing him too far last time and it seemed like he was still mad at her because he didn't even bother looking up at her. They both chose not to take the chance and initiate a conversation that could possibly end with the other person hurt more than they were already.

Their only conversation was when they asked the other to pass around things from the table. They were both reminded of the first time they had dinner together. They had been starting to know each other better and remembered how they had eaten in this silence back then as well. Expect at that time, they wanted that silence, they were busy in their own little worlds that would only connect through Ruhi. But today the same silence was becoming intolerable for them. They both wanted to speak up, but couldn't with their fears of not getting a response from the other.

Luckily for them the silence that had come between them had ended...well only for the sake of others. After lunch Bala and Vandita had dropped by to say hello and to drop off the rent of the apartment to Raman. The two small families spent their afternoon together as they started to talk and it led to snack and tea being served. And their small visit came to an end a while before dinner when Shravan was getting bored of playing with Ruhi and was becoming cranky.

As they left, the home that was playful and full of chattering was now again filled with that tormenting silence. Ishita who had gotten busy with talking to Vandita and playing with the kids now silently walked with Ruhi to their room while Raman who had been busy laughing away and joking with Bala now sat down in the living room and switched on the news channel just for the sake of pretending to do something as he thought about what this day had become. They were so happy since it was one of the most beautiful moments of his life as he watched his daughter growing up as he never thought he would see the day she would eat. But now the woman behind giving him that happiness had been avoiding him and he had no one else to blame but himself...

~~~~~

She kept herself busy with Ruhi and even called Mihika regarding their call their previous call which took up a long time. By the time she came out of the room, he had his dinner on his plate. As she entered the kitchen he left silently after he asked about Ruhi. As she told him she was asleep, he simply nodded and left. He went out onto the balcony claiming he wanted to eat outside and she didn't stop him since he was already in a bad mood thanks to her, so she let him do what he wanted. She sat quietly by at the table by herself while he sat on the balcony with his plate placed on the table while he was looking out at the view.

There was an emptiness they both felt without having the other person sitting near them. A wave of realization it them both. It didn't seem right without the other near them, even at lunch when they weren't talking. That silence then was painful, but not empty like this was. And that same loneliness they faced took away their appetite. He thought she would be done eating, so got up to put away the untouched plate while she got up thinking he wouldn't be back soon. And they both looked at each other as they stood in the kitchen with their full plates.

"You aren't eating?" He asked as his concern overpower everything else.

"Neither are you." She looked at him in the eyes for the first time,

"You need to eat."

"So do you."

"I am. I came inside because it is cold." He lied to her not wanting to admit he didn't want to even eat without her.

"I am eating too. I needed some salt." She also lied back for the same reason.

She took the container of salt and despite not wanting to, added a bit more salt to her food. As she went to sit down again, he held her plate stopping her. Looking at him with curious eyes, he sighed at her...

"Don't eat this salty food. Go get another plate." She looked at him shocked while he silently sat down to eat. She did as he said and went to sit in front of him. Though that silence from lunch was there, it was better than loneliness and for now even just the other person's presence was enough.

After dinner, they went straight to bed. There was no playing with Ruhi nor did they talk about their like they had started to do in these past few days. And today a second blanket was pulled out and they slept separately for the first time in Mumbai. Their relationship was now going backwards instead of forward.

This was exactly what he feared. If his past was going to be brought up, the one thing he didn't want was it affecting them in a way that they would end up acting the way they did in the beginning. But that was what had happened. The mere mention of his past had caused all this to happen and they were at a point worse than before. Since the first day they had met, there was never a moment like this between them, things were awkward, uncomfortable, and full of emotions, but never did they stop talking.

He turned over and look at her. This woman doesn't deserve this, in fact no woman deserved it. He let out a sigh as he thought about how unlucky someone must be to be called Mrs. Raman Bhalla. He had caused so much pain to one that he became the reason she wasn't with him and now was hurting the other one just as badly...

He looked over at the sleeping Ishita who for the first time he saw, had slept without that peaceful smile on her face and had those lines on her forehead. He wanted to reach over to her and spill out everything, but he knew that wouldn't take away that frown she had on her face rather it would make it permanent. And so he turned to the other side again as he tried to decide what was worse, falling in her eyes or having to tolerate this silence that seemed to hurt her just as much as it hurt him. Somewhere between the debate he was having in his head, he dozed off without a trace of peace on his face.

And that night for the first time in this short marriage of theirs, they both went to sleep without exchanging any words...

~~~~~

He was woken by the sound of whimpering. And he turned over slightly and started to pat Ruhi with his eyes closed. Soon the whimpering turned into quiet, muffled sobs. He opened his eyes to find Ruhi sleeping peacefully, so he got up a little to find Ishita completely covered with a blanket and he knew instantly where the cries were coming from. He got up and almost ran to the other side and placed himself on the edge of her side.

"Ishita!" he shook her gently and the sobbing quietened, but he knew she was still crying. He carefully took the blanket off her face. What he saw shook him. She was cuddled up into a small ball and her eyes were red...full of tears.

"What's wrong?!" he panicked at her state.

"Raman!" she held his hand tightly bringing him closer to her.

"Ishita! Say something! What happened?" he held her hand

"..." she continued to cry, trying to hold back her sobs as Ruhi was still asleep next to her.

He noticed her clutching onto her stomach with her free hand and his anxiousness grew numerous times. He remembered what had happened when she had come to his office for the first time. Recalling that incident, he clutched her hand tightly while the other hand still held her head.

"Does it hurt? Do you need a doctor?!" he helped her sit up.

"No...Raman..." she tried to compose herself and said between her hiccups.

"If you don't tell me what's wrong, how can I help you? Please say something, you're scaring me." He said gently cupping her hand with his free hand.

"I'm sorry Raman I'm sorry!" she started to cry again.

"Ishita..." his voice choked on finding out he was the reason for her tears.

"I shouldn't have forced you. I didn't want to hurt you, really I only wanted to help you and make you happy. Please don't ignore me anymore. I don't like it one bit. Please Raman..." she brought herself closer to him and ended up crying on his shoulder.

"Oh my God! I'm not angry!" he stroked her hair trying to stop his tears.

"Raman I know you don't liking talking about her and I shouldn't have kept on forcing you to tell me everything. I didn't know you would feel so bad. Please forget it and forgive me." He stopped stroking her hair and took her face into his hands again.

"Forgive you? Ishita listen to me! I was never mad, instead I thought you were mad."

"I'm not mad, but you're seriously not mad?" her crying stopped again and he wiped off her tears.

"No not at all. I know you're only trying to help, it's me who is making it difficult." His voice turning into a soft and gentle tone.

"Raman, I promise I will never ask you anything again, just don't stop talking to me. I don't like the silence." She cried again.

"Ishita, first stop crying."

He waited for her to stop her crying and gave her water as she tried to compose herself. As her hiccups stopped and her breathing was okay. He took her hand into his...

"Listen, I wasn't mad at you. I was mad at myself for not being able to share anything with you. And I promise you there will be a day when I tell you everything. I will, just give me some time."

"Take all the time you want. But don't stop talking to me." She said quietly.

"I won't! Never again." He smiled faintly at her for the first time that evening and she felt like she had gotten the burden of that guilt of herself and gave a faint smile back. He got her to get back into bed and sat by her side watching her go back to sleep while the whole time he knew he had to make up his mind on what was going to happen. And his decision needed to be made now...

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That was all! Hope you like it and leave your feedback! Will look forward to reading it!

Also I know Raman's past has been dragging for a while, but this story and his past is going to move forward after this update.Thank you for all the patience you all are showing.

Chapter 24A- Page 141

Res...

OMG silence b/w ishra too painful

I'm so lazy! I've a lot to catch up with!!! Sorry 😭

Hi Prabh,

Both get silence treatment for each other cause of miss interpreted of their communication.actually both feel incomplete when they are ignore each other but can 't be so long now.they can't even live without each of their support.i like this part cause their relationship grow stronger they care for their companion feeling and they don't want to hurt each other. I think Raman feel more guilty by unintentionall hurt Ishu so he will soon tell her everything about his past. Their friendship with Bala family also progress too. Did Vandu know Ishita pregnant hope she will not dig to her past again. Thank you for the update beside you have your exam will wait till you finish your last one. Keep study dear that is more important for now. 🤗🤗

Little pace up is needed, but even then its fine as you can go on for long unlike our tv show yhm which had completely lost the plot