SS: Love #2 pt 39A pg65 11/11 - Page 11

Nearly half an hour later, the sports car pulled in the Bhalla driveway.

Ishita turned to open the door but it seemed stuck. She tugged hard and Raman yelped, what are you doing? You'll hurt, I mean, break it.'

I'll hurt it?' Ishita shook her head. It's a car made of metal, with thousands of gizmos and weird stuff. It doesn't feel a thing.'

Its not just a car Ishita, its...' Raman searched for the word, its perfect, untainted, utopian magnificence. You don't treat something like that lightly.'

You lost me after its',' Ishita mocked.

Our first argument is not going to be about this.' Getting out, Raman walked over and swung the door open for her.

My wedding gift to you will be an old, beat up ambassador,' Raman teased.

Ishita couldn't help but look away, smiling bashfully. Raman leaned to kiss her.

However, she stopped him. Tanya. Rather than see it, she should hear it... from you! Be gentle with her,' Ishita said.

Hey eyes clouded, she knew the pain of seeing the one you love with someone else.

Sighing, Raman responded, Try not to be so damn sweet and I'll try not to be so damn horny.' He planted a quick kiss somewhere between her lips and chin.

Oh my goddd!' Mihika's voice made them turn around.

Hi bhabhi!' Ishita greeted, embarrassed.

Hi Miks! How are you and your platan?' Raman asked, not the least bit discomfited.

Mihika's mouth worked but no words came out.

Do something Raman, or her water'll break!' Ishita hastened.

What is going on? You and Ishita...' Mihika trailed off, shaking her head and gesturing.

Raman hastened over to Mihika and put his arm around her. Yes me and Ishita. We've loved each other for the last four years or so.'

Then Tanya! What about her?' Mihika asked.

Ask Ishita, its her fault. She screwed it all up,' Raman, grinning, passing the buck.

Shut up Ravan! It's a long story bhabhi"

Raman, Raman you are back. Where did you go beta?' Toshi asked standing at the door of the house. At the sound of Raman 's voice, she, Madhavi and Tanya, had rushed outside.

Looking at Toshi, Raman 's face lost its good humour. I need to talk to all of you. Lets go inside,' Raman gestured at Mihika and Ishita.

Tanya's boring eyes, literally pushed Ishita, to find the nearest wall and write ten thousand times on it, I am a bad-side-dish.' Maybe Mom and I should go home. We'll come back later.' Ishita beckoned Madhavi.

Softly, Ishita said, You move your desirable booty one foot away from me, and you have no one else to blame for whatever happens next.'

Gulping, Ishita jostled with the other women, including one very pregnant, to get inside the house.

Once all took seats, Raman turned to Mihika, Where's MB?'

In the den. Someone can get him,' Mihika proposed.

No need. Raman, where the heck did you disappear off to, dude?' MB asked, coming into the family room. He heard the Reventon; it called to him.

I am very sorry for the way I took off. But I needed some time to myself, to figure out who and what is really important to me,' Raman said. His eyes kept straying back to Ishita, who on her part, was ignoring him like expired cosmetics. She nevertheless, did reach out, to grab from the side table, a few miniature Pate a Choux popularly knows as chocolate eclairs... or calories that stick to your thighs.

Firstly, I need to talk with Tanya, alone. Could we go in the library?' Raman requested.

Tanya, a resigned expression on her face, asked. Is our wedding still on?' Her would-be-could-be fiance fumbled. Raman was hoping to give her a more private letdown.

Its okay! You can tell me in front of everyone,' Tanya goaded.

Raman answered with the honesty she deserved. Im sorry, Tanya. I am not right for you. I cant give you the happiness and love"

Tanya raising her hand, drawled. Never mind. So she's the lucky gal?' Her tone, like her figure pointing at Ishita, was not polite.

Not expecting the spotlight so early on, Ishita halted her cheek swelling chomping, as everyone looked her way.

MB and Madhavi appeared floored, Toshi's expression swayed wishful and Mihika grimaced; a windstorm was whipping in her stomach. Never again will I dare to mix a bowl of broccoli with a seven month pregnancy,' she muttered to herself.

Raman replies, mildly, I am the lucky man and yes, Ishita is the inly girl... for me!'

Oh! Please don't make me gag!' Tanya sneered.

Im sorry Tanya. My intention was never to hurt you"

Tanya cut Raman off. And yet you just did.' She gestured at Raman and Ishita, That's the problem with true-blue lovers or whatever your breed is called. By the time you get your act together, you really screw up other people's happiness. So what am I expected to tell my parents?'

That thankfully, Raman came to his senses, before any real damage could be done. He spared me years of therapy by not dumping me at the altar, in all my designer finery,' Mihika replied, irked. Raman 's genuine efforts to seek Tanya's forgiveness and ease her hurt and Ishita's inability to swallow her food had rendered them incapable of defending themselves. Someone had to speak for the Do jism ek jaan'.

Mb, too, came to the rescue, though much softer than his belligerent and hormone-happy wife, Tanya, I agree with Mihika. Its best that Raman and Ishita have figured out things before anything official happened.'

Bitter, Tanya muttered, All's well that ends well!' Raman returned her look, saddened. Even in these times of hire and fire, for a few, hurting other does not come naturally.

Ishita eyed them sympathetically. Now you don't go and do anything stupid. The karela ka juice taste, in the suddenly single woman's mouth, is largely because of the shattered ego rather than a broken heart. After a break up, for some time, it is hard to differentiate between the two,' Ishita' conscience scoffed.

Tanya stood up and so did Raman . I'll pack my stuff. Please, arrange for the most comfortable and me to leave at the earliest. Excuse me; I have to make a few calls,' Tanya left the living room to take sanctuary in the guest suite.

Immediately, Madhavi pounced on Ishita. What on earth is going on? You and Raman are seeing each other? When did this happen? How come you never told me?'

Haltingly, Ishita spoke, Yes amma. Raman and I came rather close. Umm... I don't mean in the physical way...' Madhavi nearly coughed up a fur ball, Toshi held her hand and MB shifted, uneasily.

Raman, a wry look on his face, said, Go on, Ishita. Finish what you were saying... something about your and my physical intimacy.'

Shooting him an irritated look, Ishita resumed her stop-look-go' disclosers. umm... as I was saying Raman and I... four or so years back, came together... not the way it sounds... not physica"

Enough already! Ishita, can you just give the UA rated version? Anyhow, sex is not bad if done for the right reasons with the right person!' Madhavi retorted.

Grosss!' Raman, and MB howled, simultaneously. Toshi chuckled. For me, hearing moms impart gyan on sex is as bad, if not worse, as seeing a gal's hairy and deodorant streaked armpits.

Ishita's mouth tripped to finish its tale. After uncle's demise, when Raman moved away, he and I drifted apart and lost touch. However, things took a turn and old feelings returned as did Raman.'

Having decided to make it official and absolutely in no mood to wait, here we are seeking your blessing,' Raman added.

I cant believe this! What a fool you've made of us. Four years?' MB exclaimed.

So no one else knew!' Mihika asked.

Nope, no one! Except Shagun!' Ishita replied, quickly and emphatically.

Mom knew!' Raman disagreed. Toshi had caught Ishita and Raman canoodling in the farmhouse; a place where the lovers used to sneak off to, once in a while. Short of bursting into a bana-bani song, Toshi had done everything to show her joy. Apart from the expected kadas, she had offloaded to show her joy. Apart from the solitaire earrings to nearly the toe rings, onto a bemused Ishita. Raman practically had to beg Toshi to keep the news a secret, until Prakash returned, from his fortnight business sojourn to Moscow.

Yes, I knew!' Toshi agreed. Sighing deeply, and looking, only and Raman, she said, There is more"

Eagerly, Ishita piped, yes, we made Badi maa-

Toshi cute her off, Its okay Ishu. I have to confess to the wrong that I have done, with you and Raman, particularly you.' Glancing at Madhavi, she said, Ishita is not telling the entire truth. Raman and Ishita did not drift apart or lose touch. Ishita dumped Raman and because I had her to do so.'

Shocked, Madhavi murmured, why would you do something like that? I always thought you liked Ishita!'

Maybe you never thought Ishita worthy of becoming your DIL. All your affection was merely an act. The fact that I loved her so much was of no consequence to you, right?' Raman ranted.

Raman ... don't talk to Badi Maa like that,' Ishita, frowning rebuked.

Raman looked at her, sharply. You are defending her. You suffered the most in all this. Thinking you betrayed me, I have need giving you hell for some time now. You took it all quietly... my misplaced anger, my threats towards your brother. I very nearly -

Raman bit off his words. There is always room in the closet for a few bones.

What are you talking about? You treated Ishita badly. How dare you Raman? Why did you, not come clean on him, Ishita' Toshi demanded.

Hold on... what is going on here?' MB butted in. One person who knows everything, please explain. And others, just hold your horses!'

Ishita raised her hand, I'll go!' MB nodded.

Don't painted rosy pictures of anyone, me and mom included. Just tell whatever happened, as it happened,' Raman cautioned her.

It's not your turn to talk. MB allowed, me and mom included. Just tell him off. Raman shook his head but did not add anymore.

Anyhow, like now as you all know... Raman and I were in a relationship, which only Badi Maa was aware of. She was elated to find out about Raman and me, and her feelings were twenty-four carat real,' The last part, Ishita spoke glancing at Madhavi and Raman.

Anyhow, we were waiting for Prakash uncle to return from his business trip... unfortunately only bad news came our way,' Ishita paused. A few days after uncle's funeral, his new business partner, from Moscow, came to visit you all. He also met Badi Maa, privately.'

Privately? Why did Bakshi meet you privately?' Raman interjected, peering at Toshi.

Ishita replied, I'll answer that. He and Prakash uncle had come to an understanding about a new venture uncle was keen on doing. As the financial risk was largely Mr Bakshi's, Prakash uncle, in all fairness, officially gave the other man large chunks of ownership in his current businesses, as collateral. Of course, everything would revert back to the Bhalla once this project got underways.'

That cant be right... Dad would have never done anything so hasty, without talking to our advisors, Raman, and me. I did not hear of such a deal ever going down,' MB disagreed.

I agree with MB. Dad would never do something so rash. Knowing the way he functioned, he would have bounced the decision off his people, and the walls,' Raman added.

Toshi spoke up, You boys were unaware of Prakash's ambition. The new venture of his was the next big thing of the century. It would have taken the world by a storm, but as the patent of the for a handful of people, including me, Prakash did not bring anyone board, not even you both. The idea was talk to you, and the board of directors once he got the financing in place, for phrase I of the development,'

Raman and MB exchanged confounded looks. Go on. Then what happened?' Raman prodded Ishita.

Then, in that private meeting, Mr Bakshi put forth another idea to Badi maa... buying a groom!' Exhaling, Ishita continued, Mr Bkashi, proposed a union of the families - marriage of his daughter with Raman.'

In exchange, the older deal would be neglected. All paperwork would be shredded and the threat of the takeover would disappear,' Toshi added.

Raman, his expression displeased, got up and walked over to the other side of the room, to the windows. He turned his back at the ones sitting inside.

SO you asked Ishita to break up with Raman? You let your son's happiness become a part of some money deal,' MB demanded, losing his cool, probably for the first time, with his mom.

MB, Badi Maa was not thinking of her son. She was thinking of the numerous employees, in your offices and factory, and their families. She was thinking of the people who had invested their hard-earned money in the Bhalla shares. She was also thinking of saving Prakash uncle's name, his legacy.' Gesturing at Raman and herself and tearing up, Ishita voiced, Two people ate inconsequential in front of so many and with so much at stake.'

Toshi averted her face, as tears rolled her cheeks. You both did the right thing,' Madhavi reinforced, eyes glistening. Mihika, too, gulped.

MB instantly fell to the abla-teri-yahi-kahaani spell. He came over to Toshi and patted her knew, Mom, you should have taken me into confidence. We would have found a solution!'

Sniffling, Toshi said, You think that breaking up Ishita and Raman was my first and only idea? That was last and the most unbearable resort! After Prakash's demise, you all thought I was locked up in my room, grieving. But, I was making calls, brainstorming; exchanging emails back and forth with the people who I thought might get us out of the sticky mess.'

As Toshi poured, her voice rose, similar to the pastel sari clad, twenty-five-year-old's acting as 109 year-old's, female head honchos in popular sitcoms. A middle-class wife grieves after her husband's death but a rich widow plans and prepares - plans for her family and her husband's unfinished work - and prepares for the eventful takeovers and splits.'

Ishita in her head could see the camera zooming on Toshi's face seven times, peppered with the sound of a storm strong enough to blow away an entire civilization. Ishita stop your Ekta effect she chided herself.

Was that the reason for the sudden trip to Moscow, a month after dad passed away?' Mihika asked. Toshi nodded, glumly.

So how come things didn't materialize between Raman and that girl?' Ishita asked, trying to change the topic.

Smirking MB, replied, An hour or so after meeting Raman, the girl eloped with her boyfriend.'

Ishita snickered. Ravan's not that bad!' she tried to keep the glee out her voice.

Why didn't you get MB married off to that girl!' all glanced at Raman in utter shock.

Yes Mom, why not MB! He has had a few years of happy married life. Did you even think of Mihika... bhabhi even once?' Raman, grinning dryly, joined his mother and brother on the couch. Did you ever think her plight?'

lightening, Toshi murmured, There's always a next time!'

No ways!' Almost everyone present burst out.

Next time, please speak to atleast on of us, excluding Ishita. No more, filmy qurbaani! I have had enough for ten lifetimes!' Raman was about to grasp Ishita's hand, but he hesitated glancing at Amma.

Nodding, Amma smiled, You have my and Vishwa's approval. After four years I am glad you both are holding hands instead of coming inside with children, we had no knowledge of.'

Amma!' Ishita howled, embarrassed.

Grinning Raman grabbed Ishita's hand and felt bold enough to plant a lingering thirty-second kiss on her soft cheek. Itna toh banta hai!' he voiced to the awkward budhis.

Ishita blushes deeply and whispers, Iss bhi jyada mil sakta hai?' and winks leaving all others awestruck.

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Hope u enjoyed

Thank you

sushma