Hey everyone! It's another 100 pages! 🥳This thread is going way faster than the last one and all the credit goes to you all! I remember my last 100 pages, I had said I expected it to be the first and last 100 I got, but some of you said it would happen again. And it did! All thanks to you all 🤗 Thank you for all the comment, all the encouragement and honest feedback. It really means a lot and I do appreciate all the time you all take out to read this, like it and leave your reviews! And so I'm back to give you all a special thanks for getting this thread here so fast...
"What happened?" she asked as he suddenly stopped.
"You liked the way it was today?" he asked anxiously just wanting to make sure she was telling him sincerely.
"Of course!" she gave him a wide smile confirming she had enjoyed herself.
He smiled and they continued walking while his eyes were only her. Despite all the madness that had happened inside a while back, she was happy and had fun was all that mattered. He had been a bit upset at how things had gone thinking she would have been disappointed, but luckily she had liked everything and he hoped it continued to be that way.
He watched her texting someone with a huge smile on her face as the buckled the sleeping Ruhi in her baby seat. As he came to sit in the driver's seat, he noticed her quickly putting her phone away upon seeing him. When asked, she told him it was nothing and not wanting to ruin her mood or his own, he started to drive quietly...
~~~~~
Reaching a quiet restaurant in a surprisingly calmer side of Mumbai, he opened the door for her after picking up Ruhi who had recharged her energy after a nap. She followed him into a small corner away from the crowd and sat down as he pulled a chair for her and proceeded to have Ruhi sit in a high chair.
"She sleeps during the ride and wakes up when we arrive at the place."
"Don't worry there's light in here."
"Ruhi, no crying okay?" he pinched her cheeks as Ishita pulled out a rubber toy for her to play with. As she put the toy in front of Ruhi's face, her hand brushed again his cheek. As his stubble pricked her hand, she closed her eyes closing her hand back. She looked away from him and he picked up the toy she had dropped in nervousness. Running her fingers over where his stubble pricked her, she smiled looking back at him.
Be clean shaven next time. He reminded himself as he gave her a faint smile. Then a waiter came to their table handing them menus only to be called back by the manager. As she picked up the menu, he spoke up...
"Don't worry, the menu's pre decided. Vegetarian food you can eat."
"Thanks, and for you?"
"I'm eating the same."
"Raman...you're not vegetarian are you? I'm just assuming here."
"No I'm not. Why?"
"Have you stopped eating non veg recently because I never see you eating any meat. At least after we met."
"I haven't stopped, but I just haven't been eating as much. First of all I can't cook as you know and you can't cook non veg either.
"I can cook non veg for you."
"Even if you can I don't want you to because of your nausea and also I don't want you going out of the way to do things you don't normally do just for me. And if I ever need to, I can eat chicken at lunch while working."
"Oh...but you're going out of your way for me."
His finger tapping on the table stopped right away. He looked at her and found her looking into his eyes. She asked him why he was doing all this for her and he tried to divert the topic...
"I'm not going out of my way. I mean...how is this going out of my way?"
"Well, in the middle of the week, after being so tired you're taking me out to a movie and dinner. And all you did at the theatre for me...I can see you're going out of your way. Why? I don't know. But I want to the same for you and you're saying you don't want me to."
"I don't want you straining yourself to do things for me."
"You're doing the same. I'm not stupid Raman...you think I don't notice you holding your head and taking painkillers after work. And today you watch that loud movie with me. I see you looking so worn out before bed and the pain on your face when you bend over to pick up Ruhi because your back hurts. And today you're driving me to dinner. Aren't you straining yourself by taking me out despite all that pain?" she said in a tone that wasn't yelling as they were in a restaurant, but instead in quieter disappointed tone.
"Ishita..."
"I'm your wife Raman. I want to make you happy. And you're not going to let me, that's not fair." She looked at him with her eyes rimmed with tears.
Like mother, like daughter he thought for a second. They both cry to get their way around he thought, but couldn't deny that he melted in front her tears immediately. It was that same prick he felt when last night she was going to ask him not to use her past against her. So he finally agreed...
"Okay sorry Baba! If you ever want to do something for me, then go ahead, but you're first priority!"
"But right now you can start doing something by giving me money." She laughed through her tears. He looked relieved as she laughed and joined in.
"What is this Ishita?! You tricked me! Now this is not fair."
"No I didn't! You just have a bad habit of apologizing!"
"Whatever, I'm paying for this dinner anyways."
"Speaking of dinner, where is it? I'm starving!"
As she looked around for the waiter, he appeared with their starters much to their delight.
"See you demand, you get!" he said as the waiter set down their plate. She giggled at his remark as she started to eat.
"What will I demand?" she asked him as he started to gorge on the food.
"I don't know. What women usually like to demand like clothing, jewelry, diamonds, dinners, vacations and all. I don't know what else women like."
"Raman...why would I ask for all that? You already give me all that without asking. Vacation to Mumbai, diamond engagement ring, this dinner and you already took me shopping. So now that you've spoiled me this much, I don't need to ask."
"Well, now I'm out of ideas. Now I don't know what to give."
"If there is ever anything, I'll ask."
"Good! Be more like Ruhi, she gets whatever she wants. Demanding child." He looked his daughter whose concentration was fully on her toy until she pushed it aside and was handed a pacifier.
"Wonder what her boyfriend will do..." Ishita quietly said.
"Umm excuse me, boyfriend? Hello? She's like 4 months." The possessive dad in him spoke up. Ruhi looked up at them as she heard them talk about her.
"She's not going to stay like forever."
"So...well...she's not going to have a boyfriend and that's final."
"We'll see, for now eat!" she giggled at his behaviour and continued to relish her dinner.
The rest of dinner was like a normal dinner for them. He talked about the recent development in his office work and how they would be ready to return to Delhi in a few days while she told him about her day with Mihika and Ruhi. He laughed as she told him about Ruhi ignoring her sister and she looked seriously talking about the reconstruction of his company's office. As they finished dinner, they were asked about dessert. He refused for any while she sheepishly ordered the largest size of ice cream they have. She looked at him while she feed Ruhi waiting for her dessert and told him quietly...
"Poor you Raman. You don't eat desserts and haven't gotten your chicken for so long, now you are becoming so thin."
"I'm not thin! I'm fit!" he looked at himself trying to confirm.
"Sure, you'll blow away with the wind one day."
"No I won't! And for your information, I'm eating cake today." And he called the waiter ordering his dessert wondering if he was looking too thin as she celebrated on succeeding to feed him some sweet dish. She watched him enjoy his slice of cake like a small child and smiled at him while he made the waiter happy at the end of their meal with an extra tip as he saw his wife's happiness...
~~~~~
They were driving back quietly as he turned on the radio that played a slow romantic song of her choice. Lost in the music she looked out the wind as the evening wind blew her now let down wavy hair. She tried to ignore the busy streets of Mumbai and enjoy the orange sunset that was appearing. The silent car that was only filled with noises of the traffic suddenly heard her voice.
"Raman is that Marine Drive?!" she pointed to the upcoming place.
"Yea..."
"Can we stop by here? Please?" she looked pretty excited to go and he couldn't say no when she asked for something. Especially when she had held his hand that was on the gear in excitement. She was really looking forward to this...
"Why not?"
He took a few turns and soon he had parked their car at Marine drive. Taking Ruhi in his arms and Ishita walking by his side, they started to walk by the bay.
"It's such a beautiful place." She looked at sunset accompanied by the gentle tide and the chilly wind blowing through her hair while he looked at the natural sight, but was more distracted by the sight of his wife before him.
"Yea, it's quite calming and relaxing. Sometimes you ignore the traffic noise completely and can only notice the tides."
"You come here often?"
"Sometimes. Only in 2 situations, when I need to clear my mind or when I want to enjoy this place for a while."
"Did you come here-"
"Yesterday? I did, but nowadays it seems like I only get peace at home. With you and Ruhi."
"Isn't that what family is for?"
"I guess. Actually I don't know. I sometimes wonder if I know what family is."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean what is family to you? For me it was people you lived with and loved and they loved you back. Like you had dinner with tem, watched TV, went out with them and that was all. Now I feel like family is wanting to get home fast, wanting to be with your close ones, sharing about each other's day, and it's not all happy. It's about sharing pain and lessening the pain of others too, isn't it?"
"I guess you're right. But I think you can't describe family. Family's what you're life revolves around. That's what I would say if I were to try and describe it."
"You're right. My life revolves around the three of you. That's all I think about. I mean before doing anything, my wife and kids are what I think about."
Noticing a slippery spot due to the tide, she grabbed his arm due to her fear of slipping. He looked at her and carefully took his hand in her again as they walked together. As they found a spot to sit that was not so crowded, they were approached by a young couple who asked to get their picture taken. He agreed and handed Ruhi to Ishita as he questioned why they needed help during the time of selfies jokingly and got his answer when a huge joint family appeared behind the couple. After clicking their picture and hearing the complaint of the family getting in the way of romance by the couple, he chuckled returning their phone and camera and wished them luck. As he came back to Ishita and took Ruhi back, they talked about the couple feeling bad for them. They saw many other couple around them as well...
"I would say young love right now, but it would make me seem old." He said.
"That's what I was thinking!"
"What? That I'm old?!"
"No you're not! In fact you look young for your age. Doesn't seem like you would have a child forget 2 children!"
"Do you even know my age?"
"Ummm, no." she said sheepishly.
"Well, I don't know yours either!"
"We sure got to know each other before getting married. Now I just hope I didn't marry a man in his 40s." she said sarcastically.
"Ishita! I'm only 28!" he looked offended at being called a man in his 40s.
"Oh thank God! I got worried for a moment." She giggled.
"You had me worried. I thought I looked that old. Gosh I'm going to be checking myself for grey hair soon if you continue to scare me."
"Don't worry, I think you're good for now."
"So..."
"I know you won't ask. I'm 24."
"Nice, 24!"
"Well, now we at least now that much about each other. Seriously we got married without knowing each other's age. What type of people are we?"
"The crazy kind, I guess." he let out a chuckle.
"That we are if you remember our movie experience."
"Don't remind me!"
They both laughed and as they calmed down, he felt a droplet in his hand. Looking at her she also had a droplet on her sleeve. They saw the water droplets falling on the tides and looked up only to get rain on their face. He got up covering Ruhi with his hand and extended his free hand for her. By the time she got up with his support, it was starting to pour. They rushed to their car hand in hand after she she covered herself with the shawl he had asked her to bring and he covered Ruhi with his jacket...
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That was all for today! Hope you all will like and leave feedback! Thank you again for the 100 pages and am waiting for your feedback!
I remember someone had once asked me for a scene of IshRa's at Marine Drive back when they first came to Mumbai and I'm not familiar with Mumbai or much of India, but I hope this lived up to your exceptions!
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
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