IshRa FF : Bas Ek Sanam Chahiye (Updated Chapter 13 & 14 page 60) - Page 30

Originally posted by: sky-if

I do hope Ishita decides to 'go with the flow' before she figures out the whole story..that ought to make the er..r trashing more interesting 😉

Raman is so cute - is ready to wing it on a major project, forgets to inform Ishita that Shagun can't make it to lunch.. 😆

Originally posted by: nitii

why i feel it is short..i wanted it to go on and on..😉

awesome update dear..👏

loved how Raman choosed ishita over his meeting..

till now i didn't feel the fire catching on any side..

pls give a glint of hope yaar..for Ishra of-course😆..i didn't like them as two individuals..pretty please😳

i loved their romantic dinner..i want ishita to realize that before its over..😆

pls continue soon😳

Originally posted by: DipaRB6

Thanks Nitii :)

Dhuan toh hai...fire hoga but hidden. Its tricky because of the situation, can't have them realize to soon because both would resist it. Next chapter is full of ishra though so hope you will like that as well!

Thanks again for commenting!

Originally posted by: nitii

impatient readers..pls don't mind..😆

i understand dear..but i can ask you..that's what i did..😃

Originally posted by: divazfankau

awsome updated
continue soon

Originally posted by: janani_divan

Brilliant update..:-)
mukesh mistook about ishra, it is a good sign for future jodi:-)

waiting for ishita reaction

Chapter 11

Back in the Bhalla house, Mr. & Mrs. Bhalla were enjoying a quiet Saturday afternoon alone. Mrs. Bhalla was sitting spread out on the sofa chomping on some nuts while Mr. Bhalla sat across reading the weekend paper. A knock on the front door brought them to attention as Neelu went over to answer it.

Shagun walked in, a gust of perfume swirling around her. As always she looked perfectly dolled up and ready for a grand party. She explained that her shoot had ended earlier than expected and so she came by to pick up the invitation samples that Raman had told her had arrived. As Mr. Bhalla looked around for the envelope, Shagun waited in the hallway, tapping her foot. Mrs. Bhalla attempted to get up to help her husband. "Nai nai Toshiji, you rest. I'll find it, don't worry. Neelu, idhar aaja."

Shagun then looked over at Mrs. Bhalla and figured she should say something. "Aunty, is your ankle...or was it the foot...fine now?"

"Its getting better, thank you puttar. Still taking medicines but its not as bad as it was. Mata rani ki kripa hai."

"Ahh. Here, puttar." Mr. Bhalla handed over the envelope to her which held the sample invitation. Grabbing it, Shagun opened and pulled out the invite. Though in very good shape, there was a couple of dents in the embossed Ganpati on the front.

"Ugh yeh Raman bhi! How can he just leave it lying around in the hall like this, in any mess."

Mr. Bhalla looked on silently but Mrs. Bhalla spoke up. "No puttar. We were showing it to Pammi who had come so it got left behind. Its not Raman's fault."

Shagun shrugged, not caring what they did with their friends. She managed a smile, thanked them and left abruptly. Mr. Bhalla looked after her for a second and then just shook his head before sitting down.

"I don't understand how that girl and Mihir can be so different."
His wife sighed, "Girls are always different Bhallaji. Anyway please don't say anything now, there is nothing we can do. Raman is marrying her."

"Have I said anything lately Toshiji? I don't even understand my own son anymore. When did he become the type of person who only values surface attributes? That is not the man I thought we raised."

"We don't know what their relationship is like, we only see the outside of it. We may feel she's not right for the family but maybe she is what he needs."

"Well, if its what he needs then fine. But it doesn't seem to be making him happy. He's all the time angry. At us, at his siblings, at his work. I don't think the boy knows what he needs or whats good for him. I've already told him what I could, if he doesn't want to listen there's nothing more I can do. He is the one that has to live with it."

Toshiji nodded sympathetically at her husband's words. She recalled the night a couple months ago when Raman had come home to tell them that Shagun and he wanted to get married. The parents had congratulated him, a little taken aback by the news. Though the Bhallas knew the two had been in a relationship, they had also noticed the distance between them in recent months and thought it was nearing an end. Bhallaji who had all this time hoped it wasn't serious for Raman, took him aside and quietly asked if he was sure this was the right decision and whether they weren't rushing into it. Without listening any further, Raman had lost his temper and asked his father to stop treating him like a child. Since then, things hadn't been normal between the two. The father carried disappointment in his heart and the son's eyes showed guilt. But for what she wasn't sure, it was certainly not the only time he had snapped at his family in anger. She shook her head and prayed for Mata Rani's grace to guide them and to bring happiness into her son's life.

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The waiters had just removed the remnants of the third course back at Bukhara. Ishita and Raman managed to fall into a comfortable conversation as they ate, talking mostly about work. Raman got to know the story behind the name of her company. Growing up she had dreamed of travelling the world to experience the wonders of nature; from volcanoes of Iceland to glaciers of Patagonia. And so there was a long list of destinations she had planned to visit when she had the money. Before starting the business, one of the motivators to get through the tough times was this eventual goal. And so when she was choosing a name, she went with the top destination on her list, the Azores.

Ishita for her part got to hear more about what Gemini Consulting actually does. Hearing his stories of the company's early days, she realized how hard working he must be and again she had to adjust the entitled CEO image she had of him initially. He also spoke at length and very highly of Mihir. How they had built the company together and how nothing would have been possible without him. This prompted her to pull his leg.

"Are you sure you're not marrying his sister to be closer to Mihir? You talk more about him than anyone else!"
He responded with a straight face, "I can have my way with Mihir anytime I want, no need to marry his sister for that."

Ishita's eyes widened in momentary shock, before falling into giggles. "Kuch bhi! Do you just say anything that comes to mind, no filter nothing?"

Raman smiled broadly hearing the kuch bhi; memory of their first meeting coming to him."I enjoy shocking people like you."

Her eyes narrowed, "People like me?"
"Seedhi saadi sanskaari types."
"Oh so you think you've figured me out?"
"I figured you out long ago. Madrassan padaku, follows road rules, keeps her parents happy etc etc."
"What's all this madrassan business, my family is from outside Madras. And I was born in Delhi!"
"Near Madras or in Madras, its all the same to me, Madrassan."

Ishita glowered but before a retort could form in her mind, Dinesh came by their table to inquire if they had any questions. While she spoke, Raman observed quietly, nodding when prompted. He felt bad about how free he was being with his words. More control needed to be exercised. She wasn't Mihir, he couldn't just be his crass normal self, god knows what she must think of him. Although surprisingly she was taking it better than he'd expected, better than most girls he knew anyway. After informing them that dessert would be next, Dinesh turned suddenly, startling a waiter pouring water who then spilled some into Ishita's lap. Horrified, both men began to apologize profusely as they attempted to clean up. Ishita who seemed unaffected just laughed good-naturedly. She asked them not to worry, saying that it was only water. When the waiter continued to apologize in fear, she smiled warmly at the man and joked, "Is garmi mein this is actually a help, thank you!" Dinesh smiled in relief and ushered off the still-mortified waiter.

Raman who had been staring, came to when she spoke lightly. "Right, what were you saying? Oh yes, you were insulting me and all my South Indian ancestors I believe. Aage bhadiye..."

He laughed, "Maybe I was just trying to annoy you, test your limits." A raised eyebrow was her only response. "It seems like you're in a perpetual good mood. Don't things ever annoy you?" And he pointed to her wet lap referring to what just transpired. At the same time dessert was being placed on the table and they started to sample despite their stomachs nearing breaking point.

She chuckled, "Rarely. I do get angry but not at the little things. Seems like a waste of energy. There's also a selfish reason. When you put good vibes into your environment, good vibes come back. At least most of the time. And its nice to be surrounded by that."

Seeing him lost in thought after her sermon, Ishita changed the subject. "How is your Mummiji by the way? Is the ankle healing okay? I spoke with her briefly last week, she was telling me that the bruising is all gone but some swelling comes and goes when she moves it."

"You seem to know more about it than me, I should ask you. Meri mummy kaisi hai Dr. Aunty?"
She shook her head and sniggered.
"But yes, you heard right. The bruising is gone. The doctor said as there is no ligament damage she should be back on her feet soon to resume terrorizing us all."

"So very rude, talking about your mother like that."
"Sab bacche aise sochtey hain. No matter how sweet their mothers appear to outsiders. What about Mrs. Iyer?"
"My Amma is a sweetheart too, but a bit overprotective. She gets dramatic about the littlest things..."
"See, you're complaining already."

Ishita smiled. It had been almost two hours but the time had flown by. She couldn't remember when she last sat down to a relaxed meal with someone outside her family. Her personal life had gone down the drain in recent years. Wait what was she saying, this wasn't personal. It was work. He was a client. A sadness sprouted in her at that thought but she snuffed it out. What did it matter, she'd had a good time. While in her reverie she found herself gazing at him as he picked up a mini cupcake and tossed it in casually. Feeling her eyes on himself, he looked up to ask with a full mouth, "Mwot?"

Scrambling, she commented on the most noticeable thing in her view, "Aapki gel ki factory hai kya?"
His eyes rolled upwards as though he'd be able to see what she saw, before catching himself and frowning. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"No, you just seem to use a lot of it. I thought maybe you had a free supply or something."

He glared. If his mouth wasn't otherwise occupied a choice response would have come her way. At that moment they were interrupted by a middle-aged man in a tux who appeared nearby. Ishita looked up to see him smile, adjust a violin on his shoulder, and start playing.

Raman gulped the rest of the cupcake down in panic. In the distance, Mukesh was walking towards the table while giving a celebratory thumbs up. Ishita watched the violin player in confusion as he strung out a soft and slow version of Pehla Nasha. Raman was trying hard to appear nonchalant. They might have even made it through the song unscathed if not for the gangly manager.

Mukesh arrived at the table and excitedly gave his favored customer a delicate bouquet of long stem red roses. Then he took Ishita's hand to shake it vigorously while she watched him with suspicion. All this was transpiring in silence since no one wanted to be rude enough to interrupt the violinist. Raman held the flowers mutely until Mukesh turned back and gestured towards "his fiance" with a wide smile. Seeing no way out, he presented the roses to the lady in question, who finally had a look of realization on her face. Satisfied, Mukesh walked away leaving his valued Mr. Bhalla in a soup.

Raman looked across the table anxiously to find Ishita concentrating hard on the flowers in her lap. She had just put together everything in her mind and realized the romantic scenario she found herself in. The soft lighting, the mood music, the flowers, what the hell was going on?! And why was her blood pounding like this. It didn't feel like anger but shouldn't she be angry? Finally, shaking herself out of the sudden shyness that had descended, she looked up to meet his eyes just as the music cresendoed.

At this juncture being silent was Raman's best strategy, he felt. Maybe she wouldn't be that offended. Her eyes were unreadable to him but it was hard to miss the blush spreading rapidly across that creamy skin. No, more likely it was an angry flush. They looked at each other for a long moment till the music seemed to stop abruptly. The violin player then bowed and left, leaving Raman to deal with the aftermath.

Although braced for it, nothing came his way for several minutes. Ishita looked out of sorts but maintained control. He relaxed then, thinking that perhaps the discomfort was making her gloss over it. But that backfired. Seeing him so composed about the whole thing raised a doubt in Ishita's mind, and annoyance overtook mortification quickly.

"Did you know about this all along?"
"Know? Know what? Its just a misunderstanding! I didn't have anything to do with it."
"I can't believe it. How could you let them keep thinking that we were...that we're...here together?"
"But we are here together", he replied innocently.

To Raman's relief, Dinesh came by interrupting them. He stalled hearing the tail end of their bickering, proceeding only when Raman nodded. He then took the liberty to crack an ill-advised joke. "Sir, aap aur madam toh abhi se shaadi shuda lag rahe hai!"

This earned him a glare from Ishita but the corner of Raman's lips curved up. Dinesh quickly course corrected back to menu talk.

As they were leaving, Mukesh caught up with them and handed Raman a small gift basket. He went on to exuberantly appreciate their business and request them to return with the whole family after the wedding. Ishita figured there was no point in correcting the misunderstanding now. She was more irked watching Raman happily take the gift. Once alone he turned around looking amused at her expression.

"Okay before you say anything, what's the point in correcting him now? We're leaving anyway."

Ishita shrugged not letting on that she'd shared his thinking.

He just sighed. "I thought I was the short-fused one. What happened to sending out good vibes and all that? Bakwas tha kya?"

A smile escaped her, "Apparently you bring out the worst in me. But you have a point, why were you so relaxed about it all? You're undermining your angry-young-man reputation." She was really speaking out of turn now, but couldn't seem to stop.

"Maybe you bring out the best in me."

A momentary freeze later, Raman cursed himself...where did that come from? But the spell had broken. The familiar tone they had developed, bantering with lighthearted insults, was broken. The awkwardness had returned in full force. He cleared his throat a few times while Ishita gazed with intense concentration at the floor, one hand hovering on a brow, hiding her face from him.

"Can I drop you somewhere?"

She looked up, glad to return to any mundane conversation. "No, thank you. I brought my car."

"Ok. This was...um...nice. I mean good to get this all settled."

"Yes, definitely. I'll be off then, please give my regards to Mummiji." She flashed a goodbye smile and started walking quickly past him when he remembered.

"Oh one sec..." Instinctively he reached out holding an arm and jerking her to a stop. When she looked up in surprise finding herself closer than expected, he let go hastily.

"You should take this." He pushed the little gift basket forward as an explanation.

But Ishita wasn't paying attention. Her senses were overwhelmed with a smell of fresh rain water. Why...no, how, did he smell like rain? She inhaled deeply trying to retain the scent. His subsequent silence alerted her back to the present and she responded. "No no, please that's for you."

"No, you take it. I don't like sweets much."
"No I'm good."
"Just take it yaar, kya formality? Anyways, you look like you love chocolate."

Ishita pretended to be offended at first but then took the basket in acceptance of his words. Raman laughed seeing her crinkled nose expression, his dimples appearing again. They parted finally, walking a little too slowly in opposite directions.

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When Raman reached the office, Mihir and Vinod were still working. Together they looked over Vinod's new plans for the Tandon project. It was a risky solution but if it worked, would fix their financials and put them back on the road to profits. Vinod was visibly nervous throughout, waiting for his boss to burst any second. Mihir, ever the good cop, helped him remember all the details as he spoke while his business partner listened silently, absorbing but not really engaging. Vinod took this as stern disapproval which made him even more anxious.

But in reality Raman was barely there. His mind was continually replacing the financial figures in front of him with images of her. Graceful movements of long fingers as she held the utensils, kohled eyes that swept up and down dramatically, and most of all her infectious smile that seemed to convey everything good and happy in the world.

"Bhai? Bhai!"

When he looked up, the other two were staring in concern. He turned his attention back to the document in front him and quickly processed the bottom line. It was a sound plan but normally a risk he wouldn't allow. But then he thought about Mihir's words. Vinod was a capable man, financially brilliant at times. One mistake aught not to doom a person. He deserved a second chance to prove his worth. Then someone else's words came back to him as well and he looked up, all smiles.

"Vinod, this is a great plan! I'll be honest, its extremely risky. But I hired you because I saw the brilliance that you've shown us time and again. So I'm going to back your bet and see it through with you. Whatever happens, we'll face it together!"

He finished with an exhuberant expression, feeling a welcome lightness inside himself. But Vinod and Mihir both gaped back at him.

"What's the matter? Are you still worried about what I said before? Listen, I was really harsh. Please forgive my rudeness. I have a bad temper as you know and don't always have a control over my mouth. Maaf kardena yaar?"

An hour later, a still-shocked Vinod left for home. They had finalized the slides to use for Tandon's call tomorrow and Raman had decided it would be Vinod who would be presenting the plan to Tandon himself. Finally, Mihir was able to ask his Bhai the burning question.

"Bhai, what happened to you?!"
"What do you mean? You think I should have been nicer?"
"Nicer? I don't think you could have be any nicer! What the hell was that? Are you dying? Going into therapy?"
"Kya bad bad raha hai tu?"
"Okay is it some 12-step program for angry people? Come on, tell me."

Raman reflected for a second. Maybe he had overdone it with Vinod. Why was Mihir acting so shocked? He was simply trying to be kinder, to make the atmosphere more positive. He wanted to see if someone's theory held true for him too. "Shut up Mihir, you're blowing a simple good mood out of proportion."

Mihir sighed, "Fine don't tell me. But whatever it is that happened to you today, just make sure it happens to you again, and again. In fact see if you can have it happen to you everyday of your life!"

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"Amma main pregnant hoon, apahij nahin!"

Vandu was getting increasingly annoyed with her mother's overprotectiveness. They were over at the Iyer house for an early dinner. Early because Vandu felt nauseous eating after 7pm. But her darling mother had started her smothering as soon as they stepped into the house. Anytime she moved an inch, Amma would rush over in alarm, yelling at Appa and Bala on the way for not paying enough attention.

"Vandu, this is a very delicate time kanna. You can't be so careless."

"Amma, you do know that women these days are working up until the day they deliver right? And I still have weeks to go!" Vandu frowned over at Mihika and Bala who were laughing in a corner at her plight. "You two just sit there laughing. Mihiku, you're no better than Ishu, always in cahoots with your pyaare jiju!"

"Akka we're laughing at Periamma, not you!"

Periamma gave her niece a stern glance at this comment as she continued to fuss over her elder daughter, stuffing unnecessary pillows behind her back.

As Vandu became even more uncomfortable as a result of her mother's love, she remembered that her darling sister was yet to make an appearance. It was very unlike Ishu to be late. To anything. On the incredibly rare occasion she was running late, she always called or messaged so people wouldn't worry. Neither had happened today, which ignited a small worry in Vandu. Appa had already been pacing silently by the door after his two calls went unanswered. Just as she was about to voice out her concern, Ishu walked in.

"Ishu kaha thi beta? Phone bhi nai uthaya, I was starting to worry."
"Oh sorry Appa, shayad phone silent pe tha."

She walked around confusedly as if unsure what to do or where to go in her own childhood home. Finally, placing her bag on a side table she sat down and looked up to find them watching her, a little puzzled.

"Haan ab bolo, kya chal raha hai?"

It was Vandu who spoke for the family. "Kya chal raha hai? You should be telling us. Why are you so late and no message? Everything ok?"
"Yah Ishu Akka, were you at Bukhara this whole time?"

"Oh sorry, am I that late? You should have eaten, what time is it?" Mihika watched as her time-obsessed cousin consulted her watch in sincere ignorance.

"Actually woh kya hua...I had a lunch...um...meeting and then Suresh called with those samples we were waiting for Mihiku. So I went to pick them up but drove half way home to the apartment before realizing I had to come here. Aur roads bhi na...kept missing my turns. Bad of me not to message though, didn't even occur to me I was that late. Sorry."

By now Vandu, Bala, and Mihika had suspicious frowns on their faces listening to this very un-Ishulike behavior. As Amma began to herd them all into the dining room, the threesome crowded around Ishita and Bala whispered so his in-laws wouldn't hear.

"Ishu, kya chakkar hai? Boyfriend?"

Caught off guard, Ishita responded after a disorienting few seconds during which remnants of a scent had flooded her sense memory. "What! No!"
She looked up and around in distress. If Amma overheard this, any chance of a normal dinner was out the door.

Vandu chimed in, "Ishu would never have a chup chup boyfriend, she would tell me first, right Ishu?" It was more a threat than a statement and Ishita nodded meekly.

"Akka, Jiju, don't worry. I live with her. If I see any doomed hero types hanging around I'll report back immediately."
"Why doomed Mihku?"
"Because he's doomed to listen to Ishu Akka's lectures the rest of his life."

Ishita tried shushing their laughter which had drawn the curious attention of Mrs. Iyer by now. As Mihika finally curbed her own giggling, she caught something unusual from the corner of her eye. She'd always known her cousin to be an emotionally straightforward person. Though she didn't dwell on her emotions, you could tell what she was feeling. Still Mihika had never seen her blush. But Ishu Akka was blushing now, profusely. There was also something different about her posture. Something familiar too. Where had she seen it before?

Before she could make the connection, a final glare from Ishita distracted her and they sat down at the table for dinner.

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Originally posted by: shalz_123

dipaa...yeh bahut hi chotu update thaa... i will protest...n mind u i m good at protesting..u better update soon...grrr..,fir i will comment...