Ishita was busy sulking when the landline rang.
She wiped her tears, cleared her throat and received the call "Hello"
"Main door kholo...Corridor ke left end pe jaao...Udhar tumhe garbage room milega. Aur wahan bade bade trash cans rakhe hue hain. Unme se kisi ek me apna phone daal do" Raman gave instructions from the other end.
"Kya?" Ishita asked trying to get a hang of what he just said.
"Agar phone use nahi karna hai to rakhti kyun ho? Phenk do na garbage me. Kab se phone lag raha hun. Kar kya rahi thi tum?" Raman screamed.
"Mai kuch bhi karun. Aap ko kya? Aur mai aapse baat hi kyun kar rahi hoon?" Ishita was too angry.
"Wo baad me decide kar lena. Filhaal apna huliya sudharo aur Sarai Rohilla pe ajao. Jaldi" he ordered.
"Mai nahi arahi kahin bhi. Mai koi katputli nahi hoon jo aapki marzi ke mutabiq rahun ya aapki PASAND se kuch karun" she emphasised the word Pasand to taunt him.
"Tum apne lectures kisi paper pe likho aur bina pate ke envelope me daalke paas wale post office pe de dena. But usse pehle warehouse pe aa jaana. Ek consignment aake ruka hua hai aur unloading keliye documents pe tumhare signatures ki zarurat hai" he said.
"Mere signatures kyun? Mai koi chief minister hoon kya jo mere signatures ke bina koi kaam nahi ho sakta?" She didn't want to give up easily.
"Itne bhi bure din nahi aaye janta ke tumhe chief minister bana dein. Aur abhi tumhe ye bhi yaad dilana padega kya ke hamari company ki power of attorney tumhare naam pe hai aur tumhare signatures ke bina ye kaam nahi ho sakta. Isliye behes karna band karo aur abhi ke abhi aa jao" the war of words continued.
"Oh! Achha! Theek hai mai abhi aati hun. Par aap keliye nahi, MERI company keliye" she said.
"Jo bhi hai bas aa to jao. Bye" he hung up.
"Hawww...Kitne beghairat hain ye! Na mera haal chaal poocha, na hi mujhe manane ki koshish ki. Bas taane phenkte rahe meri taraf aur upar se hukum jhaad rahe the. Company ki baat na hoti to mai kabhi na jaati...hmph" Ishita said to herself as he hung the phone.
"Jaanta hoon ke mere bulane par nahi aati. Isliye ye bahana karna pada. Aur seedhe seedhe baat karta to tumhe shaq ho jata isliye aur kadwi baatein ki tumse. Sorry Ishita! Bas ek baar ajao phir tumhari saari shikayatein door kardoonga" Raman thought aloud.
--------------"Kahan sign karna hai Raman?" Ishita asked with a straight face as soon as she spotted him near the station master's office.
"Kardi na bewakoofon wali baat. Aise hi thodi na sign kardogi. Pehle containers check to karlo ke saara saman theek hai ya nahi. Phir uske baad sign kar lena" Raman said.
"Ye sab kaam aapka hai. Mera kaam bas sign karna hai" she was adamant.
"Sirf sign karne se company nahi chalta. Ek to mujhe salary bhi nahi deti tum, bas mehnat hi karaye jaati ho. Ye kaho ke tumhe ye kaam aata hi nahi" he hit on the right spot.
"Earth to Mr.Bhalla! Aap jab hospital me admit the tab aapki company...correction...MERI company maine hi chalayi thi. Ye taane dena band karo aur batao ke kounse container ka maal check karna hai" she shrugged proudly.
"Chalo" he guided her towards a space that was assigned to them for the loading and unloading of the consignments.
Raman unlocked the door of the square space and signalled her to enter it.
Ishita hmphed and stomped towards the space disinterested.
Raman locked the door behind her and waited for her reaction.
As soon as she was in the enclosed space, she halted in her steps taking in the beauty of the place.
It was literally a dream come true moment for her.
Dekha Ek Khwab Toh Yeh Silsilay Hue
The fragrance of roses and lillies and orchids filled her nostrils and the sight of colourful beautiful flowers filled her vision.
Door Tak Nigahon Me Hain Gul Khile Hue
Ishita bent down to pick the petals that were spread like a carpet on the floor. She gathered some in her palms and took a deep breath inhaling the unmatched natural fragrance.
She then slowly swirled around admiring the fresh colourful flowers living her dream and as she completed one round she spotted the man who had made this dream come true.
He was leaning at the door and admiring her in his trademark style with his right hand across his chest supporting his left hand that held his chin and not to mention the left index finger that was at the corner of his lips which had curved into a lop-sided smile.
He looked all the more handsome when he did that. Ishita pouted and stared back at him with complaining eyes.
Ye Gila Hai Aapki Nigahon Se
"Aise kyun dekh rahi ho?" He asked from there.
"Aap na Raman" Ishita acted helpless "Aap itne door kyun ho? Paas aao na" she begged extending her arms for him.
He smiled at her cuteness and took quick long strides towards her.
She took him in the tightest hug not leaving an inch between them.
"Arey kitna kaske pakdogi? Bande ko saans to lene do" he teased.
"Nahi doongi. Mujhe bas aapko tightttly hug karna hai, in phoolon ki pankhudiyan jitna bhi fasla nahi chahye hamare beech" she tightened the grip if it was possible.
Phool Bhi Ho Darmiyaan Toh Faasle Hue
He too held her tightly in response till it became difficult to breathe.
Then they gently loosened their grips around and hugged each other sideways.
"Tumhe achha laga?" He asked.
"Obviously Raman. Kitna khoobsurat hai ye nazara. Aur ye khushboo" she inhaled deeply yet again "kitni achhi hai na?" She said in awe.
Sniff sniff he fake sniffed and said "Mujhe toh nahi aarahi phoolon ki khushboo" he said.
"Ramannn...Don't spoil the fun now. Itni achhi khushboo aa toh rahi hai" she said.
"Jiski saanson me tumhari khushboo basi ho, usko koi aur khushboo kahan se aayegi" he recited like a ghazal.
Meri Saanson Mein Basi Khushboo Teri
"Mera kadwa karela itni meethi batein kab se karne lag gaya?" She was surprised.
"Tumhare pyar ki jadoo ne mere kadwepan ko door kardiya, Meri Meethi Madrasan" He winked.
Yeh Tere Pyaar Ki Hai Jadugari
"Oh ab mai meethi bhi lagne lagi aapko? Kal to bada keh rahe the ke mai aapko bilkul bhi pasand nahi hoon" she complained.
"Jhoot nahi bolunga. Tumhare kuch pasand mujhe pasand nahi aate. Jitni ye baat sach hai, usse bhi zyada sachhi baat ye hai ke tum mujhe bahut pasand ho aur tum sirf aur sirf mere liye bani ho" he admitted with all honesty.
"Itni hi pasand hoon mai toh mujhe satate kyun rehte ho?" She asked.
"Kyunki tumhare lectures sunne se mujhe relief sa milta hai. Strange but true. Tumhari awaz sunta hoon fin bhar ki saari thakaan door ho jati hai"
Teri Aawaz Hai Havaaon Mein
"Kuch bhi! Mujhe manana hai to ab aapko mere lecture bhi relief lagne lage hain? Lectures se relief??? Kuch bhi Raman!" she didn't buy his lines.
"Sach keh raha hoon Madrasan. Kyunki mujhe tumhare lectures me chupa hua pyar nazar aata hai. Aur jab us pyar ko mehsoos karke mera dil dhadakta hai to tumhari baatein sangeet banke mere ragin me doudne lagti hai" he expressed in a poetic style.
Pyar Ka Rang Hai Fizaaon Mein
Dhadkanon Mein Tere Geet Hain Mile Hue
Ishita's cheeks coloured up and she lost her speech.
Kya Kahun Ke Sharm Se Hain Lab Sile Hue
"Itna mat sharmao ki tumhe dekh ke meri dhadkan hi ruk jaye" he held her blushing cheeks in his plams.
"Shhh! Kuch bhi bolte ho Raman. Kitni baar kaha hai ke aisi baatein mat kiya karo" she pushed him away for uttering words like that.
"Sabko ek na ek din jaana hi hai. Agar mai teri wajah se gaya toh ye achhi hi baat hui na. Phir tu bhi sukoon se reh payegi. No taane, no kitkit" he teased.
"Mera dil to aapke hone se dhadakta hai. Jis din apki dhadkan ruk gayi, us din ke baad mera dil bhi nahi dhadkega" she said earnestly.
Mera Dil Hai Teri Panaahon Mein
"Hmmm...Ab itne intense line ke baad ek hug to banta hi hai. Aa jao" he said gathering her in his arms.
Aa Chhupa Loon Tujhe Main Baahon Mein
They stayed in a hug until the lights went off.
Raman panicked knowing Ishita's fear of darkness. "Shit...ye light kaise chali gayi? Ishita tum ghabrana mat. Mai hoon tumhare sath" he blabbered while he fished for his phone in the pocket.
"Calm down Raman. Mai theek hoon" she calmed him.
"Pata nahi ye flashlight bhi kahan gaya. Zarurat ke time koi bhi cheez haath nahi lagti" he cursed impatiently looking for the flashlight app on his phone.
Ishita held his hand and said "Ramannn...Relax...Mai theek hun. Light ajayegi don't worry"
He turned the mobile screen towards her face to make sure if she is really fine or just trying to comfort him. When he saw her smile he found relief.
"Tumhe dar nahi lag raha andhere se ?" He was surprised.
"Jab tak aap mere ankhon ke saamne ho mujhe kisi andhere se dar nahi lagega. Aap ho to roshni hai" she said capturing his image in her big black eyes.
Teri Tasveer Hai Nigaahon MeinDoor Tak Roshni Hai Raahon Mein
"Achha? Itna bharosa hai mujh pe?" He asked in awe.
"Usse bhi zyada. Mujhe poora yaqeen hai ke aap agar sath ho to mai kisi bhi mushkil ka saamna kar paaungi. Aapka pyar hi wo roshni hai jo mujhe dard ke andheron se bahar le aayi hai aur aage bhi agar koi dukh ka andhera mujhe gher le to aap apne pyar ke diye se meri zindagi ko roshan kar doge" her faith on him was unwavering.
Kal Agar Na Roshni Ke Kaafile HuePyar Ke Hazaar Deep Hain Jale Hue
"Thank you Raman. Meri zindagi me aane keliye, mere khwabon ko sach karne keliye. Aaj bhi aapne mere ek aise khwab ko poora kiya hai, jo maine kabhi nahi socha tha ke sach hoga. You amaze me Raman and I love to be amazed by you every second I live with you" she confessed.
"Khwab to maine bhi ek dekha hai Ishita. Actually ye khwab humne sath milke dekha tha aur ab mai us khwab ko sach karna chahta hoon" he said.
"Aap kis khwab ki baat kar rahe ho Raman?"
"Hamare pyar ke bagh me ek naye gul ke khilne ka khwab" he reminded.
"Raman...Wo khwab kabhi poora nahi ho sakta. Wo khwab toot chuka hai aur ab kabhi sach nahi ho sakta" she choked as she remembered how she had lost her baby due to the accident and was told that she would never be able to taste motherhood again.
(PS: There is no surrogacy in my story. I just hate it)
"Kyun nahi ho sakta Ishita? Mujhe yaqeen hai ke jaise aaj ye sapna poora hua hai, wo bhi hoga kisi na kisi din" he was adamant.
"Raman aap kyun nahi samajhte? Is sapne ki baat alag hai aur us sapne ki baat bilkul alag. Aap kyun aise behave kar rahe ho jaise aap kuch jaante hi nahi. Meri medical history aur phir wo miscarriage. In sab ke baad its not possible Raman" she tried to put some sense in him.
"Medical science se bhi badi taqat hamare pyar ki taqat hai aur doctors se bada hamara Khuda hai. Uski laboratory me kisi ke medical history ya kisi test ki koi ehmiyat nahi. Wo bada doctor upar baithke hamara test kar raha hai. Agar is test me hamara report positive aaya to phir hamara sapna poora hone se koi nahi rok sakta" he explained.
"Raman" she didn't know what to say.
"Be positive Ishita. Agar hum himmat haar jayenge aur koshish bhi na karenge to ye possible kaise ho paayega? Mai ye nahi kehta ke ek bachha hamare pyar ko aage badhane keliye zaruri hai. Agar woh na bhi hua to hamara pyar ek doosre keliye kam nahi hoga. Par haan mujhe is baat par bhi yaqeen hai ke hamare pyar me itni taqat hai ke wo naslon tak zinda rahegi. Aur iske liye tumhe mera saath dena hoga" he poured out all his hidden desires which he had kept to himself until now to let her recover from the shock and pain she had gone through after losing their first baby.
"Mai apka sath doongi Raman" she nodded with teary eyes.
He was finally able to convince her.
"Thank you Ishita. I love you" he said.
"I love you too Raman" she replied.
"Ab hamare paas zyada time nahi hai. Chalo gul khilate hain" he said casually.
"What????" Ishita laughed at his funny statement.
"Aur nahi to kya? Itni der PHOOLON KI WAADI me waqt guzara aur koi gul nahi khilaya toh lanat hai mujhpe" he winked naughtily.
"Kuch bhi" she slapped his arm.
"Tum aise hi kuch bhi kuch bhi kehke kuch bhi karne nahi dogi to gul khilne se pehle hi murjha jayenge. Itni der tumpe phool barsaye ab pyar barsane do" he said and leaned in to taste the sweetness of his love.
---------------With a dream being fulfilled they lied on the bed of flowers for the fulfilment of another dream that would fill their garden of life with flowers of love.Dekha Ek Khwaab Toh Yeh Silsilay Hue
Door Tak Nigahon Mein Hain Gul Khile Hue
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