The worst boy in the world
"The only thing worse than a boy who hates you: a boy that loves you."
Markus Zusak, The Book Thief
Author's note: a little imaginative scene that just came to me thanks to Nikki - who assured us Raman would see Ishita in that dress.
Nikki this one' for you 🤗
Thanks for clearing the doubt that had our panties in a twist 😉🤣
If there are any grammatical errors here forgive me. I haven't had the time to proofread this 😳
______________________________________________________
10:20 AM.
Mr. Raavan Kumar Bhalla you may have won the battle but I so won the war. She laughs silently at the thought.
Was it just yesterday that we were fighting? She thinks amusingly.
She is confused, lost and happy. Euphoric even, to say that her emotions are all over the place would be such an apt way to describe her state of mind.
Of course who else but her husband - Raavan Kumar - Mr. Raman Kumar Bhalla be the reason of this multitude of emotions at war within her now.
She smiles faintly at the remembrance of moments merely passed. Just before, he left for the airport to leave for Mumbai.
9:30 AM.
She is posing for Ruhi... God how long has it been since that happened? Years and years altogether since she has decked up, put in so much effort actually to look this good and then been snapped.
The last time she recalls this happened without any event, any marriage- including her own was four years ago.
It was for the official last date she had with Subu as his girlfriend two days prior to their engagement, on a Sunday in April. Their families had strictly forbid them to meet a day before engagement citing traditions and customs of not allowing the boy and the girl to meet. However, they had somehow talked Vandu akka and Bala jiju into helping them meet just once since the distance was literally killing them.
Their elder siblings being the angels and sweet lovebirds that they still are understood their plight and helped them out. Vandu asked Ishita to accompany her to the birthday party of a common friend and Bala got Subu to leave the house under the pretext of finding a perfect honeymoon spot and so meet a travel agent friend of his.
They had had the most amazing time of their lives that day.
It was their most romantic date... as was it their last one, in a way neither of them saw coming then.
She had worn a purple suit Subu had gifted her and loved her the most in, and later they had been to their regular haunt for years, the place he had asked her to become his girlfriend- the restaurant near their school.
She had made sure to look her best, she could still remember the slack jaw expression Subu had on his face the moment that she had walked in. It had made all her effort worth it - that one moment. Later after a quiet lunch, they went to a park they often visited as did they stop by the theater they would frequent to watch the movies they were excited for though now they were renovating it to erect a multiplex.
All day long Subu had kept clicking pictures of them, said he make an album of it to make it a memory to cherish for their life.
She is still not sure what made her want to do this today - deck up. She could have merely worn the dress and shown that yes she can fit into a size S dress very well, thank you very much. There is no need for Raavan Kumar to know about the alteration that made it possible.
But once the dress was on... she wanted to show him - knock him out for no other reason than to have the momentary satisfaction that yes, she can shut up the uncouth Raman Kumar Bhalla without so much as a word from her end.
It truly became the most fun she had in such a long time; she dressed up because she wanted too. She was not doing this because Amma asked her to do it or because she had to do it but because she wanted to do it.
She had forgotten this feeling she realizes, one that comes from doing something because you liked doing it and so now here she stands before her daughter who is asking her to do this pose and that pose - be a model Ishima and she is enjoying it, while her daughter takes her snaps from her father' digital camera.
She had walked into her room to change back once she realized Raman left when Ruhi... perspective and wise beyond her years as always suggested that she get her pictures clicked to show Raman how beautiful the dress looked on her.
Her daughter found the camera in her father' cupboard asked her to start it for her once and then became her photographer.
She is standing in the doorway while Ruhi is atop the sofa she usually sleeps on asking her to blow a flying kiss in her next pose, and as silly and slightly embarrassing it makes her feel considering Raman may see these snaps she is so happy she obliges her daughter.
And as she is about to blow the kiss, Ruhi loudly yells Papa
She turns around without realizing the pose she is in as Ruhi takes a candid snap.
One in which Raman and she are facing each other , standing side by side as he keeps on staring at her and she ... she has her hand under the chin, her lips puckered.
Her eyes widen immediately when she realizes her position and moves her hand. Raman is still standing stock-still next to her, the only difference being the slightly amused expression on his face that takes over his face replacing the wide-eyed, slack jawed look her had a mere moment ago.
Ruhi places the camera on the dressing table and runs towards her father, holding his hand exuberantly asking in her joy the questions she dare never ask Raavan himself.
"Papa look Ishimaa is wearing the dress we got her, the one I selected. She is looking beautiful, so pretty like a fairy. Papa I was just taking Ishimaa' pictures so that you too can see how pretty she looks in this dress because you had left. But now that you are here you can see how Ishimaa is looking and tell that to her now itself."
She does not know why but she finds her palms a bit clammy and her heart rate accelerated to a point that she can feel the drumbeats in her ears. Raman is giving her an onceover - his eyes slowly travel from her head to toe and vice-versa.
Other than the fact that he has been quiet since he entered the room, which evidently was before she knew of his presence at all, she has no idea of what he thinks of her makeover. Although it is not exactly unusual for him to be quiet, this silence feels a bit different to her. The other times when he has been this quiet, it has been because he was extremely furious or when he had a bad throat - this is neither of those times.
She is still waiting for a verdict from his end, she realizes when he finally looks down at Ruhi gives a smile to her and slyly looks when he once again faces Ruhi,
"Yeah beta, your mama is looking good."
Good? GOOD...just good that is all he has to say, this wretched, wretched man.
She cannot believe her ears and his audacity. The nerve of that man, does he even realize she has been up since five in the morning just to get her work done for the day before she could get ready herself and this is all the response she gets. A good, as if she were Ruhi' age and just caught a Frisbee on her first attempt without falling down. As if she had merely changed a stupid bulb or tube light on her, own.
Evil, mean, insensitive, jerk, idiot, moron, heartless, ruthless, shameless, worthless, useless, buffoon, ass.
A whole litany of words is running through her head, the choicest of words she would have gladly started spouting any second only if Ruhi was not standing here.
From the look on his face, he so realizes that. HE KNOWS THAT. Mean, wretched, awful man he can see it on her face, in her expressions. Read the murderous intentions she has in her eyes and is enjoying teasing her.
Fine, two can play at that Mr. Raavan Kumar, she thinks in retaliation.
Therefore, the next moment with the sweetest smile that she has and with the most innocent look she can summon on her face, she replies
"Thank you Raman, that's so sweet of you. Ruhi, this is all because you selected the best dress for me beta."
Saying so she bends down and kisses her daughter' forehead giving the most dazzling smile to her evil, loathsome husband.
"Now we have had enough pictures Ruhi and your papa did see me too, personally so let's stop for today okay?"
"Okay Ishimaa."
She turns around and walks towards the dressing table, picks up her bag, hangs it on her shoulder and is about to walk out of the room when Raman grabs hold of her hand, and turns her around to face him.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"Clinic, where else would I go to Raman?"
"Isn't your shift in the evenings? And it's barely 10 AM now."
So Mr. Raavan Kumar... You have a problem now do you. hmm, interesting... although he will not say anything she can so tell by the look in his eyes, on his face this bothers him. Her walking out of this room, dressed the way she is.
The way his voice faltered when he spoke about the timings was another giveaway of how he does not like the idea at all.
As casually as she can, she runs a hand through her hair, to tuck a lock behind her ear, as his eyes trace her moments,
"Yes, but I had to take up the morning shift today as I had cancelled all my appointments for Ruhi' school interview, since the interview itself has been postponed now till Monday I thought I might as well finish with the work I have left behind, some patients who need one last sitting can be adjusted into my schedule. The rest I have put off till next week."
"And you will attend to them dressed like this?"
"Yeah, what's wrong with it? You said Ruhi got it as a gift; and as promised, I am wearing it. It even fits perfectly... as if it was made, just for me. Doesn't it Ruhi beta?"
"Of course, Ishimaa. It looks so pretty on you."
"See even Ruhi thinks its okay I keep wearing it all day, as she does whenever she gets a new dress. She wears it immediately the next day. I am wearing my new dress too."
"Leave after you help me search my file, your patients will be fine if you are late by some minutes I have to leave immediately."
"What file?"
"That blue one, I was reading two nights ago. I need it for some data that I would want in the meeting I have with the European investors in Mumbai."
"I don't know where your file is, I don't mess with your things, and you know that."
"Whatever. Right now, will you just help? Ruhi... beta can you look for it as well outside, in your room maybe."
"Okay papa."
As soon as Ruhi skips out from the room, he shuts the door behind her and she finds both her arms held tightly by him.
"Get out of this dress, now."
His statement horrifies her in an instant,
"E...excuse me?"
"You heard me. I said get this dress off immediately."
He is in her face and somehow it scares her,
"Raman, ouch, that hurts leave me and what is wrong with you?"
"Why should I? If it bothers you so much you shouldn't have let Ruhi get it for me."
"I let Ruhi buy this dress because she wanted to, and now I am asking you to take it off because I want to."
She finally breaks free from his grip he has on her and pushes him back.
"What is your problem? You get this dress for when you think it helps you score brownie points with Ruhi, you ask me to wear it because Ruhi is overhearing us. You challenged me last night that I will not fit into this dress, and now when I am doing just as you asked you are behaving like such a jerk with me. Can you make up your mind? What do you want exactly?"
As soon as she is done, he grabs hold her again and has her trapped in his arms, this time his grip is even tighter, even more ferocious, and they are face to face, their breaths kissing,
"I did all that and would do it all over again for Ruhi, but just like I asked it of you now, I will do so again, I won't allow you to leave this room, my home wearing something like this."
"And what gives you the right to dictate my life, my choices?"
"Our marriage, Ishita."
His reply somehow blanks her mind completely, all the fight drained off her in an instant.
As if he just realized what he uttered he looks dumbstruck, his grip slackens slightly.
Before she can make sense of what is happening, what is he doing he delicately runs a finger through a lock of her hair and tucks it behind her ear. Just as she had done so moments ago, his palm warm and wide is on her neck now, his thumb slowly caresses her cheek before it stops at her jaw,
"I won't allow any man to ogle at my wife, which is bound to happen if you step out like this. I will not tolerate it if someone, anyone dares come near you, get that. If anyone so much as tries to get within 10 feet of you, god knows what will I end up doing, so spare some poor soul who may be murdered by me today and change before you leave for the clinic. Remember, these dresses they are for you, and I do not mind if you wear them so long as they are in the privacy of our home, our room. If any man and I mean any man has a right to look at you dressed, as this it is I, only I get that."
Although the way he looks at her has her pinned to the spot more than his grip, his words have taken a stronger hold of her, her heart now. She could not, would not be able to move an inch even if she tried this moment.
She wants to hear him say it, say, the words that he has not, and the one she wants to hear him speak.
"Why would any man ogle at me? Why should I even listen to you, you just said I merely look good. So do lots of women, what's so special in the way I look today?"
He smiles at that, shaking his head, his eyes sparking with mirth, mischief and so much more. The look in them scorching her, yet making it impossible for her to look away from them.
"What did you expect me to say in front of our five year old daughter Ishita? That her mom looks sexy, hot. That her mom is ravishing. Hmm.. tell me? Do you want me to say that in front of Ruhi about you?"
She can more than feel the intensity of his look and words as she realizes the intentions of his actions.
The proof of how much she is affecting him, is hot and hard against her thigh, bulging through his pants.
He holds her closer, even closer than before - something she did not think possible, as his lips graze her ears, his breath affecting her more than she can describe. Her eyes close immediately as soon as he whispers softly,
"Ishita...I thought you would be more perceptive than that. Would understand the words that I need not say."
She realizes it was her voice, which answered him. She who spoke using that soft, hushed voice, in the whispered tones that lover's use during intimate moments. When they want no one besides each other to hear the words spoken, listen to the secrets uttered, when he laughs quietly in response to her statement.
"How could I have known what you were thinking? I ...I didn't realize you said that because Ruhi was here and not because you thought so."
They are looking into each other' eyes now, their lips inches apart and it is the most intimate moment she has spent with her two-month old husband, she realizes.
Raman is about to close the distance between them and kiss her, when his phone rings loudly making them jump back instantly.
He takes his phone out of his pocket, mutters a curse and hits the answer button
"Yeah Mihir, I am leaving in two minutes with the file, do one thing for me, perform a web check-in at the Air India site. I will be there in twenty. Bye."
He spots the file that was at his bedside table, dashes to pick it up and is almost out of the room, before he halts at the threshold and looks back,
She is standing rooted to the spot that she was in, and is looking at him.
"Ishita, I mean it change before you leave... and oh, by the way I know the sewing kit you used last night is under the sofa ... So keep it back where it belongs, Ruhi can hurt herself playing with needles."
With a wink and a laugh, he is out of the door, leaving her dumbfounded, surprised and completely embarrassed yet making her feel as if she is over the moon.
10.15 AM.
She has changed into a sari, to leave for a clinic and placed the sewing kit back in the cupboard.
Shaking her head, she places the camera too in the cupboard and closes its door.
She gives herself onceover in the mirror before stepping out once again, and finds herself looking more radiant even after having removed the makeup.
The moments with Raman playing on a loop in her mind, have her happy and blushing and she feels as a new bride for the first time, since she took her vows and the thought makes her laugh.
Folding the dress, she places it back in the bag but not before fondly running a hand over it. The watch on her wrist makes her realize she is running late for appointments, so she places the bag on the sofa for the time being, picks up her purse and gets ready to leave.
Even as she is leaving her home and getting in her car to drive, she finds herself remembering Raman' words - the ones he spoke to an assembly in Tamil praising her to the skies, ones she felt were chauvinistic when she first heard them today and the ones he whispered in her ears.
They bring a euphoric smile on her face, as she relishes in the fact - her husband finds her sexy... that she affects him... just as much as he affects her, if not more.
She has no idea of what is going on with them, but... she thinks it is the beginning of something new between them.
The thought makes her happier than she has been in years.
Bigg Boss 19
Hindi TV Shows
Financial markets and global economy
Book Talk
7