Chapter 22
"Papa I am fine'.I was held up by some things for these days'is liye phone nahin kar payi" Ramona said, trying to soothe her frenzied Dad.
"Deedhs mein samaj saktha hun'.honeymoon pe jaakar bala kaun apne parents ke baarein mein sochenge" a younger voice came through the phone.
"RYAN!" Ramona exclaimed loudly startling Krishna who was sitting engrossed in some thought.
"What happened'is everything okay at your home" he asked with genuine concern.
"Sorry Krishna" she apologized glancing at him.
"Ryan tum aa gaye aur tumne mujhe bathaya thak nahin kiya'.apne deedhs ko bhool gaya hain na gore kudiyon ke saath milkar" Ramona complained with a cute pout, making Krishna want to pull her cheeks.
"Come on Deedhs'..you and mom are the foremost beautiful ladies for me'.you both will put any western hottie to shame" Ryan said "Acha deedhs phone zara jeej ko dhijiye'mein unse baath karna chahthi hun"
Ramona was surprised but she couldn't tell no to her brother. Her family knew nothing about the original status of her relationship. Her brother had been abroad after her marriage. So he had the least clue.
Ramona stood up and went towards Krishna.
"Ryan wants to speak to you" she said handing him the phone.
Krishna took the phone with a smile. He was thankful that she was getting a little more comfortable with him. He was trying his level best to earn her trust.
"Hello Ryan" Krishna said with a smile.
"Hello Jeejs'.I hope you remember this one and only Saala of yours'..gosh kya naam hain..khud ko hi gaali dhena padtha hain" Ryan said with a chuckle.
"Absolutely'.lekin kabhi kabhi ye naam sahi bhi hotha hain saale sahib" Krishna said leaning back on the chair.
Ramona smiled at this jovial side of her husband she was seeing. She had always known that her husband was entirely different from his brothers. His behaviour towards her was due to the past incident. But to other people especially to his mother and rest of the family he behaved with love and care always.
"Acha saale sahib aapke Deedhs ko dethe hain'will surely call you often" Krishna said.
Ramona saw a slight colour rising in Krishna's cheeks and knew that her brother must have passed some comment.
"Ryan'.kya tang kichayi ki thune mere bechare pathi ka" Ramona asked in a mock angry tone.
"I swear Deedhs I am innocent" Ryan said in a not-so-innocent voice.
"Ryan Oberoi'.mein tujhe bachpan se jaanthi hoon'chal rakhthi Dad se kehna kal se bina bhule phone karoongi'.love you and take care" she said before cutting the call.
"He is really sweet and naughty too" Krishna said smiling at Ramona.
"He is still my kiddo" Ramona said getting nostalgic suddenly. Childhood memories after marriage are always a pleasure to treasure. A lone tear dropped from Ramona's eyes.
"Hey are you al right" Krishna asked slightly alarmed.
"Yeah I am fine'.just missing home" Ramona answered truthfully.
"You should visit often then" Krishna suggested.
"And risk bearing all bua dadi's taunts'.forget it" Ramona replied with a far away look in her eyes.
"Bua Dadi is not that bad you know" Krishna said slowly.
"To the children of Khuranna family'..to us and mom'.she is nothing but a devil'..I won't sugar coat my words'..she influences you guys too much" Ramona said without hesitance "I do not wanna talk about her"
Krishna knew that there was some truth in her words. His mom was always treated as second fiddle mostly because of bua daadi. He could never digest his Dad's behaviour neither could he oppose it openly. After all AK was his father.
Krishna cleared his mind of all thoughts and focused it on his current plight.
Suddenly an idea struck him.
"Ramona" he called his wife.
She turned and looked at him questioningly.
"Are you'.do you'I mean" Krishna Khuranna for the first time was stuttering to ask a girl out. That too his wife.
But he knew that he did have to be her friend first to able to love her.
Ramona looked bemused.
"What is it Krishna?" she asked.
"Would you mind coming on a walk with me if you are free that is?" Krishna asked in one go.
Ramona's eyes widened in surprise. She had an instant urge to resist just to give him tit for tat for all the pain she suffered. But then she knew that he was trying in earnest to become a friend and she had told about giving a second chance.
"Well I have to visit chothi'.Nidha that is'.just to check on her'.I guess we can go on a walk by four" she replied.
"Thanks" Krishna replied with a brilliant smile "I will come and get you'.and feel free to wear any dress"
"I have never really taken your opinion have I?" Ramona asked raising an eyebrow
Evening''.
Ramona and Krishna had been walking through a countryside for a while now. Besides a few casual talk they hadn't spoken much.
Ramona smiled looking at the peaceful surrounding.
"You love nature I guess" Krishna remarked looking at her.
"Oh'yeah I am'.nature observation is my hobby" Ramona replied with a smile.
"Passion would be a more correct word" Krishna said.
"How do you know that?" Ramona asked in surprise.
"I have seen your paintings'.I had a good mind to destroy them at the time'..but well that would have been really childish" Krishna replied honestly "Plus they are undeniably beautiful" he did not forget to compliment.
Ramona smiled.
Her phone rang.
"Abhay'.yeah I am fine'.no I am with Krishna'.on a walk'.I will be fine dear'.honestly Abhay stop worrying about me" Ramona said firmly.
Krishna was irritated that his attempt at conversatio was stalled by Abhay. He had apologized to Abhay for his behaviour and given a friendly hand to him. But right now he resented Abhay for being close to Ramona.
"Take care" Ramona said cutting the call. She found Krishna gazing intently at her.
"What?" she asked slightly annoyed "Can't I talk to my friend"
"Uh'no nothing like that'.was lost somewhere" Krishna replied looking sheepish.
Idiot! Iss tarah tho tum use bagah dhoge he admonished himself.
Ramona smiled inwardly.
See Mr. Khuranna even I can be rude she thought smugly.
They climbed up a steep hill, Krishna enjoyably Ramona fearfully. But she wouldn't let Krishna know of her fear.
They reached the top.
"Wow'.what a view" Krishna said admiring the look around and below them.
Ramona was standing a little behind him fighting with herself.
Krishna saw a very beautiful view of a village getting blanketed by twilight.
"Ramona'. look at this you will love it'it will make a great painting" he said looking at her
"Where?" Ramona asked trying to mask her fear.
"Here'..arey waha rah kar kya dekhogi come closer" Krishna said
Ramona moved just and inch and put her head forward to look in the direction Krishna was showing.
"Arey yaar! Come here na" he said and pulled her by the wrist.
Ramona who wasn't expecting this move was thrown a little forward and would have gone down if Krishna hadn't held her on time.
But nonetheless a terrified scream escaped her mouth. She was shivering from head to toe holding tightly onto Krishna.
"Pl'.pll'please don't do that again'.I '.I ..I am frightened of heights" she managed to say between shivers.
Krishna was surprised but pleased to know this one fact about his wife. Suddenly he remembered the terrace scene and how she was shivering even then.
"I am sorry'.I didn't intend to do that" he said softly gently rubbing down her back.
Ramona calmed down after a few minutes. She wanted to see the view now but was afraid to move "
"You can hold on to me and look" Krishna said understanding her dilemma from the way she was moving her head.
She turned her head a little more still holding onto Krishna and looked at the view.
"It is beautiful" she commented appreciatively "Thank you for showing" she said smiling at Krishna.
"My pleasure" he replied with a small bow of his handsome head.
"Now shall we go back" he asked
Ramona was reluctant to let go of him due to fear. Krishna understood this.
He silently took her hand and helped her down.
Edited by RDKFF - 13 years ago
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Aami Daakini
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