IshVeer FF : La Douleur Exquise| Important Announcement (Page 51) - Page 19

Chapter 16: Love Imprisoned in a Kind Facade

Ishani snored lightly, capturing Ranveer's attention towards her, her head leaned on the back of the chair while her arms remained curled in her lap.

"Ishani?" Ranveer whispered, softly rocking her from shoulder, but she only smiled in her dreams and did not move. There was no sign of worry or trouble on her features anymore and her face glowed gently as Ranveer dimmed the lights in the room, letting only the moonlight from outside filter inside. Ishani had fallen asleep in his room after they finished their dinner and he went away to do with the dishes. By the time he returned, Ishani was already travelling in her dreamland, a pillow resting in her lap.

Realizing she wouldn't wake up for the night, Ranveer lifted her in his arms and hobbled towards the Parekh Mansion, secretly hoping no one saw them at this hour, and most certainly not Baa. The woman was expert at creating unnecessary scenes at the most unexpected moments and places. The journey took slightly longer than usual, but thankfully, without any shuddering events that either of them had to regret the next day. With slight struggle, Ranveer managed to sneak into the empty room.

Ishani's room was cold and deserted, emanating a cold vibe as Ranveer stepped his feet in, quietly. The faintly filtering light offered enough hint to take her safely to the bed and cover her in a warm blanket that lay abandoned in her wait. Ranveer smiled again, unable to keep himself from tucking the strands of hair from her face aside and behind her ears. She was an angel.

One single glance on the clock nearby on the table revealed 11.30 at night and Ranveer sighed. Shutting her door with a gentle thud he descended the stairs and began his journey out of the Parekh Mansion, hoping for the same unexplored escape, but no such luck was followed.

The moment he got down, the whispered sound from somewhere close captured his attention.

"What you might be doing here right now?"

Ranveer turned around, smiling awkwardly as his eyes fell on Chanchal Ben, Baa's most loyal supporter in everything she did.

"It's around midnight, Ranveer." She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring her suspicious eyes hard at him. "You know no servant is allowed here at this time?"

Ranveer almost answered, speaking the truth in retort how she herself was at home at this hour, breaking the said rule herself, but realized she must have received special orders from Baa to roam around for Disha's sake, given the old woman was getting nervous more than Disha herself.

"Were checking on Ishani?" The string of his thoughts was broken by Chanchal Ben's sneering voice.

"No, no..." Ranveer said quickly. "I just came to check if Mota Babuji had returned or not... He'd given me off to stay with Ishani, so I needed to see him now since he was out for hours."

And before Chanchal Ben could say anything more, sound of the footsteps from behind echoed softly. Ranveer heaved a sigh of relief, thanking God to save his life once again.

"Ranveer?" Harshad Parekh quickly acknowledged his presence while crunching his face in the dim light of the hall. "You're still awake!"

Ranveer shuffled closer to him and took the bag from his Mota Babuji's hand. "Dinner?"

"No." His Mota Babuji sighed. "There was this meeting today and a small party. I'm full... and tired."

"Are you alright, Mota Babuji?" Ranveer asked, suddenly alarmed by the way his feet moved. As though they could not carry him. From the corner of his eyes he saw Chanchal leave and get out of the main door directly.

Harshad Parekh tottered towards him and placed his one hand on Ranveer's shoulder. "I am. I am. I'm just tired." He smiled looking at Ranveer, but he could see the smile wasn't his usual, heartfelt beam, but it seemed little forced.

"Did anyone say anything?" Why this question came into his mind, Ranveer wasn't sure, but at the moment only this made sense.

"Ranveer," Harshad Parekh said, standing on his feet and looking straight into his eyes. "I'm getting old. There are many responsibilities I need to heed before I leave. My limbs are getting weaker and I can feel this already." He shook his head slowly and rubbed his eyes.

Ranveer eyed him, unsure how to respond. Harshad Parekh had never used these words before. "What's wrong, Mota Babuji?"

He shook his head with a smile. "Actually, the meeting was a get together of us, some old friends, who have known each other for more than 30 years today, and a little celebration was made for that only. One of my friends was supposed to leave for Malaysia, but due to sudden cardiac arrest, he was forced to stay back. He is fine, though. I'm returning from the hospital just now... it didn't go too well, but thankfully he's fine."

"Mota Babuji? Is that it?"

Harshad laughed slowly. "Why would I lie to you? I'm alright!"

Ranveer accompanied his Mota Babuji to his room, while Harshad thanked and apologized for the trouble. At three knocks at the door Falguni opened the door, surprised to see her husband in unexpected disheveled condition, who seemed not to heed the shocked state of his wife. Ranveer narrated her the entire matter from the last 15 minutes before exiting the room.

"I'll take care of him." Falguni smiled as she shut the door behind Ranveer.

Even if he was certain about his Mota Babuji's statements, Ranveer knew something wasn't right.

Or could it be his mind playing the tricks?

The morning dawned cool and fresh, smelling of the damp grass from the garden and fragrant smell of the roses outside the window of his room. Ranveer woke up, opening his eyes slowly while his head ached a little from the lack of sleep. After returning from Ishani's room, Ranveer had received a phone call from his father, who remained worried about him. Ranveer smiled. How his parents still thought of him a child that couldn't look after himself. The last night's reprimands from his parents proved it again. Well, they needed to understand he wasn't a child anymore.

Ranveer quickly stood up, getting ready to head to the Parekh Mansion to visit the office accompanying Harshad Parekh for one of the important deals he was supposedly struggling for days. The thought of his Mota Babuji again placed him into unease, reminding him of the eerie events from the last night that proved to be outright out of his Mota Babuji's character. What could the reason be?

Realizing it wasn't going to help over thinking the matter sitting in his room, Ranveer locked his room and darted towards the Parekh Mansion, finding his Mota Babuji already there leaving for the office.

"I scared you a lot yesterday, right?" Harshad Parekh asked, his brows curved in worry. "I'm sorry, Ranveer. I just witnessed that small accident and didn't know what will happen if anything happened to me... I know you'll look after everything, but the thought was scary, and then..." he paused while Ranveer waited for him to continue, only to witness unwanted silence in the end. "Anyway," his Mota Babuji spoke more cheerfully, "I suppose kids want to go to shopping today. Why don't you accompany them?"

"But, Mota Babuji--"

"Oh, Ranveer! Don't worry about me too much! I'm fine. Go with the kids and have fun."

Without giving Ranveer any chance to speak Harshad left, and suddenly he was assaulted by the grasps of Devarsh and Pratiek on his shoulder who seemed excited by just the thought of Ranveer joining them.

"Oh boy! It's going to be fun!" Pratiek said, rubbing his hands together and passing an exciting grin to each and everyone.

"Well, let's hope this is." Ranveer smiled.

The shopping, as predicted and expected had gone well. The biggest surprising factor was Chirag joining them as well, as they headed from one place to another and ended up buying all that was needed. Disha hardly left his side, receiving teasing glares from her cousins and Ranveer. Chirag didn't notice as he remained too engaged in the phone calls, often excusing himself for several more minutes than they could afford. And at last, despite Disha's continuous pleads, he refused to come home, stating he would come soon, to meet his bride.

And Ranveer felt something stir. It wasn't right perhaps...

In the next few days Chirag and his family were supposed to come to finalize the date of the marriage before they decided for the further proceedings.

"Ranveer, you know what, Disha seems quite nervous with the whole thing now. She's even got on her super tight schedule of dieting. You do know how she is and if she continues like this, I'm sure she'll disappear completely." The boys chuckled at the thought of Disha disappearing of starving herself to disappearance. And suddenly a disrupting sound of music broke out, disturbing everyone in their place while Devarsh and Pratiek looked at each other, their gazes holding an unsaid meaning behind them.

They dragged Ranveer beside them and landed outside the gate of the gymnasium of the house and it hardly took more than a few seconds to find the cause of the loud bursting of the music. Disha. She had just finished her evening workout as she walked outside. The music must have got out of control before she shut it off.

"Ranveer," Devarsh spoke, little too loudly to send their message to Disha. "You have met Chirag several times, right?" They could hear the rustle of the feet abruptly stopping by.

Ranveer crunched his eyebrows in confusion but hushed at Devarsh's nudge on his shoulder. "Oh yeah! I did." There was no point in saying anything else when the thoughts of the two people in front of him were still a mystery.

Devarsh and Pratiek eyed Disha, who seemed to have taken sudden interest in their discussion.

"Do you think he'll keep our Disha happy? Isn't he too different for her?"

"I'm sure he will!" Pratiek cut off. "But..."

It was then did Ranveer understand the plan and joined in. "But you know what, I don't think he's going to like a girl who'd barely stand by his side."

"What do you mean?" Pratiek genuinely sounded curious.

"I mean, the way Disha's become quite obsessed with what she's not, I can't think he'd really prefer her over those girls who keep his family happy. In other words, he'd want to be with someone who is real."

"Exactly!" Devarsh said. "And look at her. She's awfully obsessed with making herself look better. Isn't she so pretty already? I know Chirag's dad and he's made one thing clear: his daughter-in-law should be strong enough to have her husband under control! Otherwise, who knows, guys like Chirag are the free birds that don't mind wandering outside of the well established nests."

Ranveer and Pratiek rolled their eyes at the weirdness of Devarsh's joke and laughed aloud.

"Yep, and I don't understand why's she hell bent on working out in the first place. Chirag doesn't really appreciate the matchstick kind of girls!"

And it was then Disha popped out of the gym and the glared at the three boys, scrutinizing at each of them closely. "What were you just talking about?" She quirked an eyebrow.

"Nothing serious, Disha," Pratiek said, running his hand through his hair. "We were just talking about..."

"What's wrong with you, Pratiek?" Ranveer said, advancing further. "Aren't you worried about your sister's future?"

"Of course we are!" he said, lowering his face, while Ranveer and Devarsh found it hard to keep up with the act now, when Disha had already begun to crumble. "Whatever you heard was true." His voice was low as if narrating a long abandoned secret.

Panic washed over Disha's face as she looked at the two other boys who confirmed her horror by their single nod, apparently having hard time in keeping the plan secret anymore. Disha threw the bag from her hand aside and rushed towards the kitchen, luckily finding a plate full of snacks ready as she began shoveling the contents into her small mouth clumsily. In a moment Chanchal Ben turned up, her hands full of sweets, and Disha leapt upwards, grabbing all the pieces in her hands.

"Sorry, Chanchal Ben, tell Baa I took them," she bothered to clarify at the horror stricken woman.

Ranveer eyed Devarsh and Pratiek who seemed content with success of their plan. "Finally, she won't be starving herself to death."

"Let's practice the whole thing!" Pratiek's sudden voice jerked them both rudely.

"Easy, boy!" Devarsh said, rubbing the corner of his ear dramatically. "You'd turn everyone deaf!"

Pratiek seemed to ignore the taunt and excitedly explained the plan to the other two. "What say?" he said at last.

Devarsh was amused. "This is probably the best thing your brain can produce." He ran a teasing hand over his brother's head and smiled.

15 minutes later Ranveer, Devarsh and Pratiek sat into Disha's room, Disha joining them alongside.

"So, ready?" Ranveer eyed each of the boys and smirked. "Pratiek, you look gorgeous!"

Pratiek shot an angered look but silenced immediately. "So do you, Baa." He said the last word little too loudly to emphasize on the term and snickered. Ranveer ignored the compliment and gestured everyone to take their places.

Apparently, the plan was of rehearsing the final meeting of the Parekh and the Mehta families, including Chirag who would come to vouch his decision of marrying Disha officially on the same day. Of course, the plan was the product of the brain of Mr. Pratiek, spiced by the contribution of Ranveer and Devarsh.

Disha looked at them, confused. "Are you guys even going to start now? Or I'm going to take my beauty sleep."

"Wait," Ranveer said. "We have Baa..." He pointed at himself. "And Chanchal Ben... Pratiek, and Disha..." He looked at Devarsh who snickered under his breath.

"It's such an honor to be in Disha's shoes, I swear."

"Well, we don't have the most important character of the Party. Chirag." Ranveer sighed.

And suddenly from there Ishani passed by, humming a recent song to herself while Ranveer's face brightened up. "Ishani!" She stopped immediately and turned back to find Devarsh and Pratiek peering from behind Ranveer.

"Yes?" Ishani advanced towards them, a bright smile plastered on her face.

"We're rehearsing the day Chirag's going to ask for Disha's hand in marriage. Come, we need Chirag's character to complete the crew."

Ishani stepped in and her otherwise calm smile turned into a hysterical fits of laughter. Ranveer and Pratiek stood wearing Sarees to play their parts perfectly as they respectively became Baa and Chanchal Ben. For a moment her eyes fell on Disha and Ishani almost stepped back, unsure if she should really be interrupting when Disha celebrated her life, making sure never to be disturbed by Ishani.

"Come, Ishani." Devarsh nudged her into the room. "Disha won't mind. Right, Disha?"

Ignoring the uneasiness on Ishani's face, Disha nodded her head. Slowly, Ishani made her way to the couch while Devarsh handed her over his blazer to get better into the character.

"Maadi rey!" Ranveer's voice echoed as he mimicked Baa's most popular pick up line and shook his head in mock annoyance. Pratiek let out a chuckle but fell silent at Ranveer's glare. "Chanchal! What's so funny?" He scowled.

"Nothing, Baa," Pratiek, as Chanchal, answered timidly. "Chirag has come. He's here." Pratiek pointed towards Ishani.

Ranveer eyed Ishani and took a deep breath, ignoring the thoughts of how amazing she looked in the simplest of the way as she sat there. "So," he said, entering into the character again. "Why do you want to marry Disha?"

Devarsh as Disha across from the other side chuckled and blushed. "Don't do the over acting," Disha said quietly, slapping his shoulder playfully.

"Yes, Chirag?" Ranveer asked further, returning his attention back to Ishani.

"Because Disha is pretty, smart and my first genuine friend in India." Ishani smiled, pushing the tendril of hair from her face aside.

"Beauty fades. Are these the only reasons you want to marry our girl?"

"Well, as I said, she's also my first friend and I'm sure our life will be full of adventure!" Ishani shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "And Disha is cool. Exactly my type of girl!"

"Anything more?" Ranveer raised his eyebrows.

"Why don't you let us two decide that, Baa?" Ishani said. "You don't really have to be so prying in our life, right?"

Ranveer snorted. "I like your sense of humour! Maadi rey! These kids today have lost all their sense of respect for the elders."

Ishani couldn't keep herself from chuckling. "I like her, that's it. She's decent, good looking, and smart."

"Ishani," Devarsh said suddenly, "don't tell me you've been talking about your choice of the guy for yourself all this time."

Ishani laughed and shook her head.

"Are you?" Devarsh narrowed his eyes.

"I want someone like my Papa. That's it." Ishani turned towards Ranveer and smiled, while he felt his breath catch in his chest at the way she looked. "What kind of girl do you want, Ranveer?"

"Ishani," the words involuntarily left his mouth before he could even fathom their gravity.

"What?" All voices simultaneously cried out.

"Uh..." Ranveer fumbled, and then turned to Ishani. "Ishani, what's wrong with you? You always get out of your character and ruin everything! And don't look at me like that..." He blushed. "I love my Sunny Leone!"

Ishani huffed in response. "You are impossible!"

"Yep, I'm waiting to get married to her. It'll spare my expenses too. The CDs of her movies, you know?"

Devarsh slapped Ranveer's shoulder. "What about us? She'll be a family! I can't endure that pain!"

"I know, too bad!" Ranveer said, and the boys suddenly circled around to talk in hushed voices until Ishani overheard the name Sunny Leone' again.

"Arghh!" She said, disgusted. "Boys can never change, right?" She practically shouted the sentence as Ranveer and Devarsh stepped aside. "The problem isn't Sunny Leone, it's you people! Your mentality! Sick, sick!"

She began plodding out of the room when Devarsh caught her wrist and dragged her back.

Ranveer stepped aside, letting the cousins have their own time as he saw Ishani from a distance, watching her arguing with them like a part of their own family. As though she belonged to them and not what Baa always thought of her in attempts to keep her away. Gently, he undraped the Saree from around him and folding it, placed away.

His mind only humming one desire. Desire to let Ishani know that it wasn't Sunny Leone, but she herself whom he loved. Loved so much that there was no life without her.

Without anyone noticing, Ranveer passed from a corner to another side and slipped out of the room, a quiet smile dancing on his lips.

Ishani noticed him go as he smiled at her one last time before sprinting away, while his heart cracked a little more with the truth of his imprisoned love dying inside.