IshVeer FF: Of The Soulmates Chapter 53(Page 144) - Page 46

Waiting eagerly for the next chapter...

Originally posted by: _priyaa_

Again chap-27 is a beautiful one...totally loved it... Ishani & Puneet's conversation was very nice & ofcourse fruitful..she finally admitted the truth...& Ranveer..aahh... so much of tension... I just hope the culprit will be caught soon...& I really want this to happen soon...Don't u think it's a bit late already...

& I liked the fact that she started sharing her feelings with Ranveer again..It's a very positive sign...

😳😳

Originally posted by: _priyaa_

ch-28 Brilliant dear...totally loved it...It really reminds me of our old #MeriAashiqui..feeling nostalgic... & it was a very beautiful experience to read it..you have penned down their emotions very beautifully & skillfully which makes it so live..You are really very good at explaining their emotions... I just loved it... The way you have described her loneliness & how she embraced this for her own comfort,very nice my dear..just keep writing more & more...thank you..waiting for the next update...& happy Navratri to you...😳

Hay, haye! Thank you, Priyaa. <3 I'm glad you've liked the chapters. We're both late lattefs. You know why. :D

Author's Note: Hello, everyone! First of all my sincere apologies for not posting this chapter already but it was due to some unavoidable reasons. Second, this chapter is dedicated to LadyMeringue since she is the one who sat through to listen (or read) my confusion and bakwas. Thank you so much, darling. And also to my another friend who is not on IF but FB and helped me considerably on certain parts. So my speacial thanks to you both and it's dedicated to you too; either good or bad. :D

Chapter 29

The Valentine's Day approached with the same enthusiasm as expected; and lovers all round were happier, ecstatic as if they had their favorite team won the losing game. The bright red color seemed to have painted the canvas of the city with its never ending charm and an air of strange comfort blew spreading a soft fragrance of roses in the town. As far as Ranveer saw he could only see the red, pink and various other shaded line of roses"natural and artificial both" covering the shops vehemently. He had come to King's Road to see one of his clients (who obviously did not know he was RV; and had agreed to see him thinking he would get to see RV with the help of his host if luckily the meeting goes well) and found himself quite uncomfortable around the people who already were so busy in their own world.

The shops, restaurants, bars or even book stores were filled with the air which made him feel intensely uncomfortable as he sat in the corner of Meldar restaurant. The entrance of the large hall covered with blue curtains provided one the clear view of the outside surroundings which sometimes seemed unpleasant to him. Inside the hall various tables were placed as per the comfort of the visitors, and most of them were occupied already. The walls of the restaurant were painted in creamy white and possessed the fascinating paintings by various renowned artists which only increased the beauty of the place as colors and messages in them reflected the friendly hospitability of the place. It had been almost 15 minutes Ranveer sat there; his eyes wandering aimlessly here and there. The client, as Ranveer had already expected, reached 15 minutes late.

"You're late," Ranveer said sternly, as a man in his early 40s made his way towards Ranveer.

"I'm sorry, I was stuck somewhere," the client answered uneasily.

The next one hour only followed the requirements and conditions of the investments that the man was about to provide. The deals were made and finalized at the end as Ranveer stood up to leave.

"Thank you, sir," the man said.

"No need of that," Ranveer said. "It's the business."

It was always fun to see people without letting them know who he was, he thought.

*

The evening approached as Ishani had engaged herself in her own work. The loneliness she felt was torturous and glum and she did not deny she wished she felt otherwise. The day refused to pass, the clocks in her office room continued to strike at hours in continuous intervals, but her unease did not subside. Her phone only rang with the business partners' information regarding the work she was in. No call came from Chirag so far. She could not tell whether she felt better or the cause of her loneliness was this. But within the seconds a feeling stuck her heart: She and Chirag were never together on the day, he never wished her in last two years so it could not be him. Ishani whisked away the files that lay before her and stood up nervously. The whole day seemed to have been lengthened twice the normal hours as the clock still stuck at 4 pm. To kill the time Ishani decided to attend the meetings which had been called off for the day, but after 3 back to back meetings she only found 2 hours having passed. It was still 6 O' clock in the evening and Ishani felt more miserable than before.

She looked at her phone as if expecting something but since last few hours there had been no calls. It was around 7 when her phone rang and the name of the caller made her heart beat wildly.

"H...hi, Ranveer," Ishani exclaimed, not caring what impression it would have on anyone. She suddenly felt a wave of unexpected happiness pass through her. So happy was she that apart from a smile creeping on her face and she laughed aloud.

"Hello," Ranveer answered. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Ishani grinned, unable to hide her excitement, while she could sense he was in no mood to listen to her riddled talks. "Oh, well. I just didn't expect you to be calling me right now."

"I met one of the investors today. He has agreed to accompany us in our project," Ranveer said solemnly. "I thought you should be informed since you were worried."

"That's a great news; and we have had few more investors who are interested in our business. It's all because of you."

"Me?" Ranveer asked.

"Yes. Your name and hard work has made them crave to work with you that despite the bad happening with you people want to work with you. It's rare," Ishani said.

"That's good," Ranveer said, feeling awkward. "Thank you."

"What are you doing this evening," Ishani asked the question that was ringing in her head ever since he called her.

"Working," Ranveer answered.

"Oh, alright. Have a good evening and..." Ishani paused.

"And?"

"And happy Valentine's Day!" she finished in a hurry.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Ishani," Ranveer returned.

After disconnecting the call Ishani gave a sigh of relief and a happy smile came over her lips as she blushed slightly.

"What on earth is wrong with me?" she thought to herself, as the priorities in her life seemed to change. Until few months back she thought she was more comfortable with the cold, deserted winter while the sun seemed to burn her, but now the warmth of the sun penetrating through the cold shell of hers made her adore the red burning object placed in the sky beyond her reach. Ishani whenever looked at her past life it was no better than the dead, frozen rose but now it bloomed like a fresh new flower peeking triumphantly at the people who tried to put her down.

*

"Why's it so dark here?" Ranveer shouted as he reached his cabin in the evening and found all the lights shut. "Anyone there?"

No one answered. Ranveer moved forward to find the switch when suddenly the lights in the room were extinguished. Dazzled, he moved onwards as the lights continued to prickle his eyes and it was few moments later did he get to see his surroundings. The room was empty and only the usual things were lying there. While coming onwards, towards his desk, Ranveer noticed a figure bent towards his computer which he still had little difficulty in recognizing. Slowly, coming closer he realized it was Rishi, bent towards his computer system, as if observing something attentively on its screen.

"What are you doing, Rishi?" Ranveer said while Rishi looked flustered.

"I...I..." Rishi fumbled.

"I'm listening," Ranveer said.

"Sir, I'm really sorry but I had come to check if everything was alright. There was some problem detected here. No one else could be seen so I had to check it out as soon as possible. You know, we cannot take any chance," Rishi answered, all his words coming carefully.

"What kind of problem?" Ranveer asked.

"Sir, same as the last time. Someone tried to break through the whole server but failed, it seems. And since this whole line of systems is over sensitive when concerned such things."

Ranveer understood the matter and he nodded his head. "Alright. You may leave now."

Rishi left.

Ranveer knew what was to be done, but the matter had to rest for a while before the final blow. And he could wait for a few more days giving his nemesis one more chance.

*

Ranveer spent the entire day busy with his work and not let the feeling of loneliness affect him. He now realized he had failed, for loneliness kept stinging him incessantly whether he realized it or not. He remembered Ishani taking him to the church two months ago, and to kill the remaining time of the evening he decided to visit the same place, reminiscing his most beautiful moments so that the gloom of the night would not torture him more. He always felt better being closer to her by any means and this evening was no different.

After nearly half an hour Ranveer parked his car in the same lawn he had the last time and moved forward. The green grass, shining with the drops of dew on it like the pearls from the ocean, overlay the entire field before church. The building of the church seemed more alive tonight, for the whispers of the visitors could be heard even from a distance Ranveer stood. The outside structure of the place was illuminated with a brilliant golden light making Ranveer feel as if the sun had poured out his yellow beams on it at the most unusual of the moment while the rest of the place remained shrouded in the cloak of the dark. The clock of the church struck 8 as Ranveer's eyes fell on the name of the church engraved on a stony signboard: King's Church, it read. Ranveer went inside, hoping to find some solace that nothing else could provide in that hour.

Inside the church there was a sublime quiet spread over the entire place as Ranveer walked in slightly awkwardly. People prayed and left one by one and many others came, while Ranveer too lit a candle, placed it in front of Christ, not knowing how and what else to do; and followed the same procedure he had done the last time.

Slowly he walked backwards and was hit by someone very unexpected.

"I'm sorry," he said, apologetically, when he saw Ishani standing in front of him; and his eyes wide in amazement.

Ishani, surprised, looked at him as if words fell short to say anything from her side as well. He remembered himself telling Ishani that he had some work to do for today and wondered what she might think of him for lying to her. Ishani had many questions in her eyes as she stared at him for a while before someone whose path was blocked by them begged Ishani and Ranveer to let him go. Both of them moved away as Ranveer continued to look at her. She looked gorgeous. He had seen many women but none were as beautiful as she. Ishani wore a simple purple dress, with her hair left loosened in a bun. Innocence in her eyes still could make Ranveer shudder for it was the only thing which could give him life and death at the same time without her ever letting know.

A long time passed when Ishani excused herself and Ranveer said he would see her outside the hall. Ishani nodded while Ranveer left nervously.

The air felt colder as the sky above twinkled with a thousand of the yellow stars gleaming magnificently. After sometime he saw Ishani waddling on towards him. She looked painstakingly beautiful. Her graceful face, her eyes, a careless sort of smile which was very unusual of her made her look more enticing than before. He was lost when Ishani approached him and smiled.

"I didn't think you'd be here," she said.

"Nor did I. I only came to see..." Ranveer said but could not finish his words.

"Alright," Ishani sighed.

"What do you mean by alright'?" Ranveer said, seeing Ishani's careless manners.

"Nothing. I could just guess your reasons because I've never seen anyone moodier than you," Ishani answered.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Can't you survive without questions, Ranveer? Why, how, when. Isn't there anything beyond that for you?" Ishani said.

"Why are you getting mad?" Ranveer chuckled. "You're not even drunk."

"Oh, so you mean I act mad when I get drunk, right?"

"What is there to mean?" Ranveer said carelessly.

Ishani's face was burning furiously.

"So you mean I was mad last time, if so, why on earth you didn't tell me before?"

"Oh, well! I don't know what to say." Ranveer shrugged his shoulders.

Slowly he could see tears forming up in her eyes as Ishani turned to leave, trying to hide from him what she felt. Ranveer rushed to her.

"Ishani, wait!"

"Let me go," she returned, yanking her hand from his grasp.

"I was joking. Why did you have to take this so seriously?"

"I didn't," Ishani said as tears left her eyes. "I create troubles all the time. I did that for you too. I'm sorry."

"Don't be stupid!" Ranveer retorted. "Don't tell me you think this way for yourself. You were never a trouble for me and never will be." He looked into her eyes but she moved her gaze away.

"But I should be going now," Ishani said. "I'm getting late."

"Late for what? I know you are free today. Are you?" Ranveer said, rather hesitantly.

Ishani nodded. "I think so."

"If yes, do you mind coming with me? I have something to show you," Ranveer said, fearing if she would take his words in the he did not intend to convey. But to his utmost surprise Ishani nodded in affirmative. He smiled at her and offered her his hand.

"It's a place I always wished you were with me, Ishani," Ranveer said as they both headed towards his car.

"But my car? I need to call my driver first," Ishani said and informed the driver.

Ishani stepped into the car and Ranveer drove away. He looked at Ishani as if unable to believe she was there at all, and not the hallucinations he might be having as he used to have quite often. Ishani would look at him in between and they would smile at each other awkwardly. He wondered what would be her thoughts at the moment, was she happy, or had agreed to come with him because she wanted to, or as a duty or something else? His mind wandered in the dearest of the possibilities returned by the most painful ones but he for some reasons didn't care. He was happy and her smiles suggested she was as well. Her smiles could never lie, he knew that.

"How far is it, Ranveer, the place we are going to?" Ranveer's thoughts were interrupted by her question.

"Uh...we will be reaching there in an hour now," Ranveer said, smiling.

Ishani smiled back and stared out at the fading views before her eyes.

"Why are you so quiet?" Ranveer said.

"I don't know what to say."

"Say anything. Anything you want to."

"Perhaps sometimes silence is the best speech?"

"But I want to hear from you."

Ishani laughed. "We're talking, Ranveer, already."

"No, that's not enough. Say something. I don't like this silence."

Ishani laughed again. "Well, I can just say thank you. Thank you for making me a part of your wonderful evening and thinking me of being worth it."

"And you are welcome," Ranveer replied back cheerfully while Ishani smiled back.

There were no words explaining how happy she was. For this sudden turn of events had been unexpected and pleasant for her. While their car crossed the streets of the stunning, glittering evening London, Ishani would look back at Ranveer time to time and wonder if she is dreaming. His kind features and smiles as he would look back at her made her realize he was real and none of the things happening in her life were a dream.

"How far do we have to go? It's been hours since we left home," Ishani said.

"20 more minutes," Ranveer said.

Almost 20 minutes later Ishani saw Ranveer driving through a narrow street in a small market town. The air on the place had become colder and slightly suffocating. The town had its name on various shops and Ishani read it as Lechlade. Ishani shivered while Ranveer drove beyond the crowd of the town and soon enough they reached a place where not many masses were present: there was a sound of soft music in the air, people cheering and dancing but Ishani could not see where it all was.

Ishani and Ranveer came out of the car.

"Are you feeling cold?" Ranveer asked, as if laughing at her.

"What do you expect?" Ishani said, shivering. "But I'm fine."

"Cool."

Downwards below the road a river ran to the south which both worked positive and negative for the visitors. Having an ethereal beauty in it, it was the only place one could have a proper view of the river; but with the town being on such height it became the cause of awfully chilly evenings. Ranveer led Ishani on a stony pathway leading to a warm destination in a wooden hall. After walking almost for 5 minutes Ishani and Ranveer came to a large room merely crammed with the people. An overwhelming fire danced in the hearth near a closed window, and lights set alight in the hall which made the dark looking room appear brighter. Along with it a soft music flew in the air: all of it promised an amusing surprise to Ishani.

"Take a seat," Ranveer said softly, getting Ishani out of her reveries.

She looked at him surprised.

"This is beautiful," she said, taking a look around one more time.

"That's why I brought you here," Ranveer answered with a hint of pride and happiness.

Ishani smiled at him. "And I'm glad for that."

Both of them continued to look around as the cold of the night took over. The rustling wind succeeded to seep in the warm room as Ishani felt herself shiver hard. The waiter came to take the orders and Ranveer ordered two cups of hard coffee while Ishani waited, hoping the direction of the breeze would change in a while to her ease. But before any of her expectations could come true she saw Ranveer taking off his jacket and handing it over to her.

"No, no. I'll be fine," Ishani said as a nervous feeling overcame her senses.

"Don't argue on this, Ishani. Take it," Ranveer returned.

Ishani took the jacket from Ranveer and put it on.

"Thank you," Ishani said while the waiter returned with two cups of coffees. Ishani and Ranveer thanked the waiter as he left with a polite smile.

"How amazing it is!" Ishani said, marveling at the beauty of the whole place. "It has to be the most beautiful sight I have ever come across. The town, this river and this caf. All of it."

Ranveer smiled. "So, how was your day?"

"Busy as usual," Ishani answered, shrugging her shoulders. "Spent entire day in the meetings. And came to church in the evening and found you. What about you?"

"Same as usual," Ranveer said. "But less busy. Do you like working what you're doing?"

"Of course," Ishani returned.

"You hated this job once."

"I did, but after Papa I had to look after the whole thing. It did seem hard initially but I'm good with it now," Ishani said.

"And you are doing great in it."

"Don't flatter me," Ishani said, blushing.

"I'm telling the truth," Ranveer said. "You have come a long way!"

"But there is still a lot to go," Ishani said.

"Of course."

Ranveer and Ishani sat silent for a few minutes while Ranveer had ordered a glass of alcohol.

"Why do you drink so much, Ranveer?" Ishani asked seeing him taking the third glass in a row.

"I don't think I have an answer."

Ishani had not told him, for the fear of losing the peaceful time which had come after a long time filled her heart, but all the time he drank before her eyes she saw him in the same evening she had to take him to the hospital few months ago.

She only returned a smile as he did not say anything more. She continued to look at his face. The face that was an inseparable part of her life and even today he was. She sat silently and guessed he had not realized this as his attention was on the dying fire in the fireplace.

In a moment or two Ishani heard his voice bringing her out to her senses.

"May I ask you one thing?" he said, while Ishani nodded her head slightly.

"Why..." he paused for a few moments, took a deep breath, and then continued, "Why did you and Chirag not marry? You wanted to marry him long ago."

Ishani found countless thoughts whirling in her head and none giving the right answer. Thinking for a few minutes she said:

"I think I realized I had many other things to do before that."

"Is it because of Mota Babuji?"

"I don't know. Maybe yes."

"Do you really think you can be happy once you leave London; and go away from...us?"

Ishani looked away from his face towards the fire which was extinguish by now and only coals in it were burning furiously.

"I don't know," replied Ishani, though the thought of leaving the place always stabbed her heart countless times.

Ranveer asked no more questions and an awkward silence fell between the two. The sound of the Thames flowing nearby kept breaking it but soon it became a part of the unsaid words and emotions between Ishani and Ranveer.

"Ranveer, do you mind if we go that way for a while? I want to see what is there."

"Sure," he answered. And Ishani followed Ranveer again, like a child, as they came out of the caf.

From this distance Ishani could see the town of Lechlade glimmering in the dark as the river flowed right down at her feet. She did not deny she felt excruciatingly cold but that had never bothered her. The sound of the music still rang in her heart, now mingled with the echoes of the water of the river and night birds' hooting.

She smiled at Ranveer as her hand brushed against his causing an electric sensation within her. She had never been as happy as she was tonight and this happiness was the reason she felt like screaming her heart out as if nothing exists beyond the place she was in...with Ranveer. Nothing mattered beyond that existence and nothing was hopeful beyond the happiness she felt.

"This is beautiful!" she exclaimed looking at Ranveer. "Thank you so much for showing me this place. Thank you so much."

"My pleasure," Ranveer said gratefully. "I'm happy that you're happy."

Slowly, to Ranveer's surprise, Ishani took her hand out as a cue to hold it in his. Ranveer looked confused while Ishani slightly shivering from cold gestured him to take her hand in his. Ranveer did take her hand in his.

"Don't you remember we used to dance like this when we were kids? We danced in Maa and Papa's wedding anniversary and everyone said you were a terrific dancer," Ishani said, her eyes gleaming with happiness.

"I do," Ranveer answered, tightening his grip in her hand; "but you were the worst dance partner I ever had."

"Oh, really? Then why did you spend weeks teaching me before our final performance? And why did you dance with me, anyway?"

"I couldn't get myself to the hospital after dancing with you; so had to prepare myself and you too," Ranveer chuckled.

"Ranveer!" Ishani said angrily, but could not hold back her amusement as the memories of their first dance rolled back in her head.

Quickly, controlling her laughter, Ishani brought her hands to his neck and circled around while Ranveer moved closer, his hands on her shoulders.

Amidst the cold Ishani could feel his warm breath on her lips as their bodies swayed on the sound of the music no one but they could hear; the noise around melted slowly away. Ranveer smiled looking at her innocent face. She looked angelic and most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Never in his life had he seen someone as striking as she. Ishani looked round as Ranveer twirled her gently before holding her back in his arms. She laughed, for the happiness in her heart had increased along with her heartbeats at his touch on her skin. Slowly they moved closer until their heads were resting on each other. She felt lost like those times she was with Ranveer as she heard him whisper in her ears, "You look beautiful."

No words came out of her mouth; instead she chose to stare into his eyes that had always promised her comfort, affection and company of a friend when no one was around. She had no one until he came to her and tonight was no different.

They separated as the dance became more awkward than either of them had expected. Ishani looked at the hundreds of the lights glittering in the town far away before her eyes while Ranveer's hand still clasped in hers.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Ishani," Ranveer said, looking at her.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Ranveer," Ishani repeated with a sigh, her eyes on his smiling face.

Jeez! So you read it. Anything is welcome in case you find this chapter horrible and not upto mark.

OH MY GOD...I am in love with this chapter. You are an amazing writer. This is by far my favourite chapter. I was so waiting for the valentine's day, don't want the day to end...please please write the next chapter soon. I am in love with your creative work.

Elvish! I actually waited for your update & I can say it's worth a wait! Fantabulous! Just Fantabulous! How can you actually write by putting emotions with such Beauty & Unerring things! Mind-Blowing!

Oh elvish i can't explain.

Hey Elvish!

OH MY GOD


Elvish you stole my heart with this one I think this was your beat chapter so far , really have no words to describe the beauty of your writing 😳 😳 It was the best valentine they could have , loved the place ranveer took her along , and the dance was pure bliss 😳 😳

I know i have been very late with reviws , but i have read all chapters and all of them is fab 😳 😳 Love them all , great job Elvish 😳 😳 Can 't wait to read more from you dearie 😳 😳

MM

Wow!! Wow!! Just wow Elvish!!
Love this chapter. It is so beautiful and ethereal and romantic that it simply took me in a different world itself !!! Totally mesmerised!!

Your writing is just amazing and you have outdone yourself with this one !! What a beautiful valentines day they had !!

Beginning of a new turn of events I hope !!
Superb!! Do keep writing and please update soon !!

Wow is I guess CNT explain my feelng aftr reading dis chp 😳
Valentines day ws d best I mean ishani's teenage love behaviour rv matured cold facade loved evry bit of it
Whether it's d Thames flow or d church evrythng ws bang on in descriptn I loved it nd I did nt want dis chp to end or dis day to end 😉
U r really an amazing writer though u update late BT ur awesome updates make us hpy widout realizng abt nythng else 😆
U took me to an altogether dreamy world wid dis update 😳
Nw amid al dis I failed to mentn abt imposter who is he hmm u r incrsng curiosity yr 😉
Nd ya sry ws so mch bsy in back days tht I failed to rply on ur previous update BT each evry update ws awesome specially ishani opening her heart out to puneet tht ws d best 👏 👏
I gt so mesmerised wid last three update tht I sat thru whole nite to read again whole ff al were awesome yr aftr LM u r certainly becmng my fav author nw
😳
Waitng fr nxt update. 👏 👏 👏