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EK DIL & EK JAAN 30.3
Newyork (2009)..Did the movie humanize terrorists?
Coming Soon - Rama Official Teaser - Ramayana
NAACH-GAANA 31.3
Who saved Yaman-The dragon
And for all my readers who have stuck with this Mahabharat si katha - dil se thank you 🤗
Part 26D
Thaare Jaisa na Koi
Bhalla Residence - 14 October 2015
Ishita smiled contentedly as she stroked the hair of her little chatterbox, trying to lull the excited little girl to sleep.
Her daughter had latched on to both her and Raman the moment they had returned home from the Hotel Paradiso, peppering them with a thousand questions as to where they had been and why they hadn't taken her. From then until now she had refused to let go off her mother and Ishita had had a difficult time even trying to embrace Adi, given the possessiveness Ruhi was displaying. Her newly minted teenager hadn't minded of course, or had pretended not to mind, exchanging high fives with his papa, and laughing at his little sisters clinginess.
Now though, the little girl she was caressing grew still beneath her hands, her even breathing confirming her descent into slumber. Ishita dropped one last kiss on Ruhi's head and pulled the duvet around her, before stepping out of the room, dimming the night light before she closed the door softly.
She was barely out of the room before another pair of arms were around her and a breaking voice announced to her "I missed you Ishima"
"Adi" she exclaimed in surprise, holding her son close, even as she tilted his head up to face her. "Your voice, its different"
"Haan, kal se iski awaaz mein badlao aa raha hai" Toshiji chuckled loudly from the kitchen, where she was busily making parathas with Neelu. "Ishita Puttar, zara tu aa kar Neelu ka haath bata. Mere kamar be bada dard hai" [Yes his voice has been breaking since yesterday. Ishita, my child, will you come and help Neelu. My back hurts]
"Haan, mummyji, abhi aayi" [Yes mummyji, I'm just coming]
Ishita dropped a soft kiss on Adi's head and tousled his hair. "I missed you too beta. I didn't realise my son was growing up so fast. Your voice is breaking and all huh?"
"Haan toh akhir beta kiska hai? Raman Bhalla ka beta hai, mard ka beta hai, of course he will grow up fast. Koi madrassi toh nahi hai na" [Well he is Raman Bhalla's son after all. Of course he will grow up fast. He is not some madrassi, is he?]
Raman's voice boomed out behind her and he made a grab at both his wife and son. Ishita laughingly pushed Adi at him and escaped into the kitchen, taking her mother in law's place at the stove. She stole covert glances at her husband and son as they settled in front of the television, mock fighting over the remote, showing love in the special way that fathers and sons do.
It was such an ordinary family scene, played out in a million homes all over the country, and yet it was one she had never thought would be hers and one which she would never get tired of. After the emotional storms of the past few weeks and months, the heartbreak of her failed IVF attempts, the tears of the past two days, it was time for her to count her blessings and thank her Murugan. Yes, one dream had not come true, but so many others had. She was a mother, a wife, she was loved, nay, adored, she was so so lucky and one missing blessing could not nullify the hundreds that she had.
Tears clouded her eyes as she recalled Raman telling the same thing to her over and over again the past two days - they were indeed blessed. They had their families, their children and above all, they had each other. She glanced up again at her husband and found him staring straight back at her.
"Okay?" he mouthed.
She nodded, hurriedly glancing downwards again, not wanting him to misunderstand her tears. She had cried all her hurt and anguish out to him at the hotel, and he had shown her, proven to her, that his love was not, had never been, conditional. No, she was not crying over the IVF again, these were tears of joy, of bliss, of contentment. But she knew her Raman could not see her in tears and she did not want him to worry about her.
She hurriedly composed her face into a smile and glanced up again, only to find him standing in front of her.
His eyes were clouded with anxiety and she cursed herself silently for causing him such grief.
"Ishita" he said urgently. "Are you, is everything..?"
"Raman, mein theek hoon, aap please..dont worry about me" [Raman, I'm okay. Please don't worry about me]
"Kyun, kya hua Ishita ko?" [Why what happened to Ishita?]
Unbeknownst to them, her mother in law had come up behind Raman. Ishita again silently cursed herself. She and Raman had decided that there was no reason for them to tell their parents anything about the failed IVF, to worry them needlessly over something that could not be.
"Mummyji mujhe kuch bhi nahi hua. Mein bilkul theek hoon aur mein bahut khush hoon. Raman toh bas aise hi. Aap log baithiye na. dinner ready hai." [Mummyji there is nothing wrong with me. I'm absolutely fine and I'm very happy. Raman is worrying over nothing. Now please sit down, dinner is ready]
She turned away and bustled about setting the table, serving her family with all the love within her. What she had told her mother in law was true. She was fine and she was happy, and it was all because of her husband. Her Raman. He had wiped her tears, had made her feel so loved, so special, so desired, that there was no room for sadness in her heart.
As she sat at the table, laughing with her family, her thoughts wondered back to the previous day.
*Flashback*
He had organised a spa visit for her and had insisted on dropping her off at the spa himself, engaging in a long chat with the manager even as she was being ushered into the changing room. She had later discovered what that chat was about - he had asked for her to be given the absolute deluxe treatment. Massages, hot stones, pedicures, manicures, wraps, soaks and balms - it had been three hours of utter bliss and she had slipped into a deep slumber during the final massage.
She had finally awoken, famished, and having changed back into her sari had wandered into the reception room to find him waiting patiently for her, charming all the wide eyed beauticians with his special brand of RKB panache.
She had pouted prettily at him as he gave her a guilty grin, whisking her away to the hotel's Italian bistro for a late lingering pasta and salad lunch. He had turned that famous RKB charm on her during lunch, feeding her from his own plate, urging her to sip champagne from his glass, targeting his sarcastic wit on some unfortunate marketing manager he had come across in London. She had forgotten her annoyance, forgotten her sadness and laughed with him, not missing the happiness in his eyes every time he was able to get a smile or laugh from her.
That happiness in his eyes had made her teary towards the very end of their luncheon and she had clutched at his hand.
"Raman" she had whispered. "Why do you love me so much? I don't deserve you..."
In response he had leaned across the bistro table and had kissed her hard on her lips, uncaring of the other diners, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Damn it Ishita, don't try my patience or I swear I'll show you right here and now just what you mean to me. They can arrest me afterwards and show our MMS all over the media, I won't care"
She had coloured and pushed him away, blushing furiously. "You might not care but Adi will. Stop it Raman"
"No, you stop it" he had retorted, mischief returning to his eyes as he settled back in his chair. "Enough with the food Mrs Bhalla, I have other plans now"
And with that he had stood up suddenly, pulling her up with him. "You. Me. Room. Now" he had hissed, pulling her towards the door.
*Flashback ends*
"Kya puttar?" Mummyji was looking at Ishita quizzically. "Kitni der se papaji kuch puuch rahe hai. Teri dhyan kahan hai" [Ishita, papaji has been asking you something for so long. What are you thinking of?]
"Sorry mummyji" Ishita mumbled, colouring brightly, refusing to meet anyones eyes. "Kya, kya keh rahe theh Papa?" [Sorry mummyji. What were you saying papa?]
Raman looked at his wife's beetroot red face from across the table and chuckled to himself. He knew she was remembering yesterday's lunch, and its aftermath. Well, he had better refresh her memories tonight. He owed it to her. And to himself.
Two hours later - Raman and Ishita's bedroom
Ishita sat in front of the dresser, smoothing night cream onto her still blushing face. Raman had returned to the living room after showering, to make some calls to his American consultants. She had chosen his absence to take her own shower, and then sneaked quietly into their bedroom after kissing Adi goodnight.
She knew her husband would have a good laugh at her expense the moment he caught her slone, and she was determined to finish her beauty rituals and get into bed before he finished his work.
"You mad woman." she berated herself as she smeared the cream vigorously into her skin. "Paagal. Pranth. Paithyam."
It had been so embarrassing to have been caught day dreaming about the previous day at the dining table. But then, it had been worth day dreaming about...
*Flashback resumes*
The sips of champagne she had taken from his glass must have added up to quite a lot, she realised with a giggle as she stumbled slightly behind him, checking his fast strides to the lift.
"Ishita" he had turned back, his face wrought with concern, his hand tightening in hers. "Are you okay?"
"Champagne" she had whispered. "You got me drunk"
His face had darkened, his eyes inscrutable as he had resumed his strides, his hand firm under her elbow, making her almost run to keep up with him. "And now I'm going to take advantage of you" he had whispered as he followed her into the lift, the presence of the lift operator the only thing stopping his hands from following his eyes, which roamed over her body with impunity.
They had barely made it into their room, had barely shut the door before he had swooped upon her, pulling her into his arms, his hands kneading her back furiously as his mouth seared hers, forcing it open, thrusting his tongue inside, pouring out months of loneliness and frustration, and a lifetime of love into her. She had whimpered and she had gasped, but she was his Jhansi ki Rani and she had been longing for him too. Despite all her insecurities and worries, she had been missing this, had been missing him, his kisses, his warmth, that special way he made her feel, the sheer pleasure he gave to her. So she had kissed him back with the same abandon, pulling his shirt out of the waistband of his jeans, running her hands over his bare chest, pulling him closer still as their kiss deepened, ebbed and waned.
They finally pulled apart, gasping, but the next instant she was in his arms again, tearing his shirt open as he kissed her face and neck, pulling away her sari and choli, his kisses following his wandering hands.
She had been emboldened by the wine and the force of his passion and she had followed his lead, pressing her lips to his neck and his chest, hungry to feel and taste him. She had not realised that they had dropped onto the floor until the hard cold surface pressed against her bare back, and she had arched up into his arms.
The feel of her softness grazing and pressing into his hard torso had made him shudder involuntarily, and he had paused momentarily, gazing deep into her eyes.
He had to take this slow he knew. She was vulnerable, hurting. He had to pull back.
"Slow down jaan' he had whispered. "Lets go to the bedroom, hmm". She had nodded wordlessly as he picked her up effortlessly. But the proximity of her lips to his had tested his resolve. He had not been able to resist plunging his lips onto hers again, had not been able to make it into the bedroom with her. Instead they had sunk down onto the thick shag pile rug by the unlit fireplace, the setting sun bathing their bodies in iridescent hues as they touched kissed and stroked each other into a frenzy of pleasure and pain. She had not wanted his gentleness then, and so he had abandoned his plans, taking his cues from her as they merged their bodies and their energies until they were one in every way.
It had never been this frenzied, this passionate between them, she had thought afterwards, as he had sleepily carried her in his arms to the bedroom, wrapping her within him as he fell asleep. She had stroked his forehead as he slept, marvelling at her own boldness, and exulting in the way she knew she made him feel.
And the way he made her feel.
*Flashback ends*
She gasped as the door to the room closed softly, interrupting her reverie. Damn, she had meant to be asleep before he came. She got up in some confusion, only to come up against his hard chest. The next moment he had her in his arms, his lips busy searching for hers, intent on picking up where he had left off the night before.
"Raman" she whispered. "Kal hum ko kaam jaana..."
The rest of her speech was drowned by his mouth as he shut her up in the best way he knew. And as they sunk down together on their bed, Ishita knew she had no reason to doubt his love. Ever. He was hers. She was his. And they had found home in each others arms.
Na wo akhiyan ruhani kahin
Na wo chehra noorani kahin
Kahin dil wali baatein bhi na
Na wo sajri jawani kahin
Jag ghoomeya thaare jaisa na koi (x2)
Na toh hansna rumaani kahin
Na toh khushboo suhani kahin
Na woh rangli adayein dekhin
Na woh pyari si nadani kahin
Jaisi tu hai waisi rehna
Jag ghumeya thaare jaisa na koi (x4)
Baarishon ke mausamon ki bheegi hariyali tu
Sardiyon mein gaalon pe jo aati hai wo lali tu
Raaton ka sukoon..
Raaton ka sukoon bhi hai
Subah ki azaan hai
Chaahaton ki chaadaron mein maine hai sambhali tu
Kahin agg jaisi jalti hai
Bane barkha ka pani kahin
Kabhi mann jaana chupke se
Yun hi apni chalani kahin
Jaisi tu hai waisi rehna
Jag ghoomeya thaare jaisa na koi (x2)
Apne naseebon mein yaa
Hausle ki baaton mein
Sukhon aur dukhon wali
Saari saugaton mein
Sang tujhe rakhna hai..
Sang tujhe rakhna hai, Tune sang rehna
Meri duniya mein bhi
Mere jazbaaton mein
Teri milti nishani kahin
Jo hai sabko dikhani kahin
Tu toh jaanti hai marke bhi
Mujhe aati hai nibhani kahin
Woh hi karna jo hai kehna
Jag ghoomeya thaare jaisa na koi (x4)
Coming Up: Two months later
Part 27A - Savera Bhi Hai Zindagi. Pg 72
Writers Corner: Books, Stories & Poems
Anupamaa
Kumkum Bhagya
