Banenge kisi dil ki rahatein... Aisi hai yeh mohabbatein
Ishita was gazing out of the window of their bedroom, looking at the rain pouring outside on a continuous but yet soft and rhythmic manner. It felt like a soothing shower post the thunderstorm, quite like their life at present. She knew it had been a tough, very tough decision for Raman but she too had decided that no matter what, she would stand by him. She may not be able to do much to remove the poison filled in Adi's heart for his father (though if ever she had an opportunity to do something, she would leave no stone unturned), but she would nonetheless stand steadfast besides Raman to help him through it all. Like this soothing shower, she too would soothe Raman's every raw nerve.
Ishita was lost deep in her thoughts when Raman came in the room. His head was filled with thoughts and emotions of all kind. On one hand, his heart pained from Adi's conviction at his own hands but then his mind would takeover and tell him that what he had done was for Adi's own good and that Adi would grow up to be a good human being.
He owed a lot to the lady standing at the window from whom he could not take off his gaze at the moment. She not just gave him the strength to stand up for what's right for his son but also pushed Pathak and Mrs. Kaul to come up with the idea of suggesting 6 months of community service at an old age home for Adi instead of sending him to a remand home so that Adi would learn to respect the elderly. She had taught his son a critical lesson but in her own way; the warm and tender motherly way. He wished Adi too could grow up under Ishita's care like Ruhi.
These thoughts triggered yet another series of emotions in Raman. Extreme guilt took over him for having hurt her, broken her heart not just this time but at all other times too. They married for Ruhi; she to look after her and he to gain her custody. He was selfish then and he hasn't changed now. She has time and again selflessly put Ruhi and his family ahead of herself. She had even started putting him before her own self, trusting him (blindly too). She put Adi before her own self; made Raman promise to share matters related to Adi with her. All that he gave in return of it was heart break. He had hurt her and his heart wrenched and wished hard to turn back time where this time he would go straight to her from Shagun's house after knowing the truth and pour his heart out to her. He couldn't see a better way to make amends. He knew she wasn't angry with him anymore but he was angry with his own self.
Ishita's thought trail had taken a different course too. She too felt guilty for having doubted Raman. She felt foolish to have thought that Raman had feelings for Shagun. She realized that even if Raman didn't love her, atleast he would never pick Shagun over the justice for her amma. Raman's words that he addresses her mother as amma because he considers her as his mother kept ringing in her ears. She felt guilty for not having forced him hard enough to tell her everything. After his drunken breakdown, she had told him off for having hurt her whereas, now she felt that she should have instead yelled at him to explain his majboori in detail which he kept yelling about.
Raman and Ishita were both in their own turmoil of thoughts, every little fight, misunderstanding, arguments were flashing into their heads. From time to time a tiny happy memory would surface itself too like their long phone conversation when Raman was in Mumbai or when Raman came to take her back home after the entire Param drama or their conversation at the hospital after amma's surgery or the night stroll when Ishita stayed over at her amma's place after amma was brought home from the hospital. Ishita giggled slightly when she recollected how Raman had caught her cheating into the new green dress.
Ishita's tinkling giggle broke Raman's reverie. A lot had happened between them and a lot had already been spoken out loud too when he broke down in front of her about Adi's truth. He had poured out his heart to her. She now knew about his every single vulnerability, fear and insecurity. She knew him in and out. But yet there was one thing that remained unsaid. One very crucial thing.
He drew a deep breath and called her, "Ishita..."
She turned back to look at him. He was unnerved at that very moment and turned back in the same instant. Ishita was puzzled, she asked, "Kya hua?"
Raman again drew a deep breath; he had to get this thing done, "Vo..umm..tumse kuch baat karni thi..."
Ishita pressed him to go ahead, "Haan toh kahiye na."
Raman mustered courage and turned to face her, "Maafi mangna chahata tha... Sirf iss incident ke liye nahi par har uss chot ke liye jo maine tumhe pohochai hai. Bohot takleefein sahi hai tumne. Tumne shaadi ki mujhse Ruhi ki khatir aur saath mein tumhe kai saare dukh mile. Mere aur Shagun ka kadva past jo aaj bhi humari zindagi pe haavi ho raha hai usme tum bhi jud gayi..."
Raman paused for the tiniest moment to gaze into her eyes and continued, "I am sorry Ishita har uss pal ke liye jab maine tumpe vishwaas nahi kiya, maine tumse baatein chipayi, maine tumhara dil dukhaya... I am really sorry..."
Ishita had tiny tears in her eyes. She knew he was not to be blamed alone. She had been wrong too quite some time. She wasn't going to let him be so guilt ridden, "Raman, galti apki akele ki thodi hai. Vishwaas toh maine bhi nahi kiya aap par kai baar, baatein maine bhi chipayi, dil toh maine bhi aapka dukhaya hai. Humne shaadi toh kar li par ye shaadi humne Ruhi ke liye hi hai iss baat ko granted le liye. Ek dusre ki ore koi zimmedari nahi samjhi. I am sorry too because galat hum dono hi the..."
Ishita stopped to see if she had any success in reducing his guilt but that didn't quite seem like the case. There was still something nagging him and this time she would force it out of him, "Raman... Relax, jo hua so hua... Kya kar sakte the hum. Dosti toh humari ab hui hai, pehle humare beech rishta hi kya tha ki hum ek dusre ke baare mein sochte... Koi naam ya pehchaan the hi kaha iss rishte ke..."
At this moment Raman cut her short, "Toh ab naam de dete hai iss rishte ko..."
He gazed deep into her eyes. To her, his eyes seemed different than usual, they were saying so many things to her. Raman continued, "Iss rishte ko sirf naam humne nahi diya hai, Ishita lekin rishta toh ban chuka hai. Agar koi rishta nahi hai toh fir kyu jab tumhe chot pohocti hai toh dard mujhe hota hai aur jab mujhe dard hota hai toh aansu tumhari aankho mein aate hai..."
Raman held her hand and said, "Bohot aankh micholi khel li humne... Ab aur nahi... Kuch kehna chahata hu tumse..."
He started, "Ishita, I ... No wait..." He went down on one knee, held both her hands in his and gazed so deep into her eyes, "I don't know tumhe filmy, romantic novel type cheezein pasand hai ki nahi par I think most ladkiyaan pasand karti hai..."
He smiled a little and cleared his throat, "Ishita... umm... Mrs. Ishita Raman Bhalla, kya tum mujhse...well, shaadi toh kar chuki ho so... Kya tum mere saath iss shaadi ke rishte ko nibhaogi? I love you, Ishi..Ishu!"
Ishita had tears in her eyes, she didn't know what to say. She was stumped as any girl after a surprise marriage proposal. She jerked his hands holding hers a little to make him get up. When he got up, she opened her mouth to say something but choked. So she just rushed into his arms and hugged him tight. Happy tears flowed freely now indicating her state of complete bliss and she finally managed, "I love you too, Raman..."
Raman was exhilarated and broke the hug drawing her a little away so that he could see her face. She shyly looked into his eyes and said, "Yes... Main iss shaadi ko nibhana chahati hu aapke saath."
Raman pulled her back into his arms and said, "We'll do this together. We'll be each others' life partners, soul mates forever. I love you and I will love you forever..."
Ishita sighed, "I love you too... forever..."
Raman and Ishita broke apart and gazed into each others' eyes. They were silent now but their eyes were communicating with one another. He drew in and kissed her on her forehead. She shut her eyes and tiny tear escaped from one of her eyes. Raman quickly kissed it off her cheek. He then kissed her other cheek.
Raman stopped for a tiny moment. They both looked at each other. He leaned in to go further but first looked deep into her eyes, his eyes asking hers, 'Do I have your permission...?' Her eyes gleamed and smiled back, 'Yes you do...'
Edited by Periwinkle - 11 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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