Part 1 - At the Bhalla ResidenceIt was close to 7.00pm. Ishita had prepared dinner, then fed and bathed Ruhi. She was now sitting with her daughter, listening to Ruhi read from her primer, her mobile phone close to hand.
Raman had been texting her all afternoon, ever since he had left her clinic. She had returned to her cabin after treating the VIP patient to find 5 messages on her phone.
"That was just the trailer, the feature will drive you out of your mind"
"I know my kisses leave you speechless, but haath bhi kaam nahi kar rahe kya?
"Miss me yet? Tell me how much"
"Ishita?"
"Ok, I just spoke to Sarika, she tells me you are still in surgery. Text me back as soon as you see this. PS. I love you, I love you, I love you."
Her heart melting, she had texted him back " I love you more"
From then on, they had been exchanging texts all afternoon, he tantalising her with how much she should be looking forward to the evening, but never explicitly telling her what it was that he intended doing.
At around 6.00, he had sent a message that he had booked a spa treatment for her in their room, so she should be there by 8.00. "Don't forget jaan, I expect to meet a beautiful stranger in the bar at 9.00. My intentions are strictly dishonourable, so take advantage of the spa. And there will be clothes waiting for you as well. Remember, you promised to do as I said, so make sure you dress exactly as instructed. And I hope you have rested well, because you sure aren't going to get any sleep tonight. I will make sure of that. PS. Don't let anyone know where you are going, especially that khadoos husband of yours"
She had blushed when she read that, unaware that she had giggled out loud until Mummyji nudged her saying:
"Kya baat hai puttar? Kya padh kar itni khush ho rahi hai?"
Ishita jumped. "Mummyji, app kab aayi?"
"Main to yahaan kab so hoon puttar, tu hi apni khayaloon me doobi thi. To kya funny shunny message hai? Hume bhi sunaoo."
"Nahi nahi, Mummyji, kuch bhi nahi. Meri dentist friend hai na, Rama, woh kuch dentist wala joke bheja tha mujhe." Ishita sent up a silent prayer to Murugan to forgive her for lying to Mummyji. Well, it was actually a prayer for forgiveness for sins yet to be committed, she realised, for there were many more lies to be told before the night was out."
And now it was 7.00 and time for her lies to be put into effect.
"Ishima, main TV dekhoon?" Ruhi had taken advantage of her Ishima's distraction and had closed her school books. "Thik hai baby, but only for half an hour, ok." Patting Ruhi's cheeks, she picked up her phone and went into her bedroom.
Beep beep. It was Raman again. "Leave home now jaan, so you have plenty of time to get to the hotel. Two hours to go, ab intazar nahi hota. Text me when you get there. And jaan, drive safely."
" Intazar to mujhe bhi nahi hota, Raman" Ishita thought to herself. She shivered as she remembered the feel of his mouth on hers earlier that day, the way in which his tongue had demanded entry into her mouth, the manner in which he had stamped his authority, his arms crushing her to him, caressing her."
"Control, Ishita" she told herself firmly, as grasping her handbag, she stepped out of the room.
Nerving herself to sound normal, Ishita walked up to Toshiji, who was sitting with Ruhi and Romi, watching a cartoon on TV.
"Mummyji" Ishita prayed that her voice sounded normal. "Mujhe clinic se call aaya tha, ek emergency case hai. Dr Batra nahi aa sakte, so I have to go. Bahut late ho jayegi, to aap Ruhi ko apne paas sula loge please. Ruhi beta, mamma has to go to work, aap dadi ke saath sleep kar loge na."
"Haan, Ishima" Ruhi replied, as her dadi beamed at her. "Dadi aur main khub masti karenge"
"Haan, Haan, puttar, tu chinta na kar. Tu ja." Mummyji joined in.
"Thank you Mummyji. Thank you Ru beta." Ishita grabbed her daughter in a hug, kissing her soft cheeks fondly.
"Lekin puttar, kitna raat ho gaya hai. Tu Romi ko bhi saath le kar ja" Toshiji said, with concern on her face.
"Haan bhabi" Romi jumped up, seeing his chance to spend some time with Sarika ( or Sarikaji as he fondly thought of her). "Main bhi aata hoon."
"Nahi, nahi, Romi" Ishita racked her brains desperately to think of some excuse. "Main hamesha akele jaati hoon na. I will be fine."
"Nahi, nahi Bhabhi, I insist" Romi wasn't going to give up easily when some bonus time with Sarika was in the offing.
"Oh God," Ishita thought " what do I do now. What would Raman do?" The mere thought of Raman gave her inspiration.
"Romi" she said quietly. "Dekho na, papaji bhi out gaye hue hai, mamaji ko lekar. Aur Raman ko to aate aate it will be very late. Sirf Mummyji, Simmi aur bacche hai. It will be much better if you stay, please. We need a man in the house."
"Are you sure Bhabhi?" Poor Romi was deflated, defeated by the call to his mardangi.
"Yes, I am sure" Ishita saw her chance. She grabbed her car keys and giving a final peck on the cheek to Ruhi, she left the apartment.
Part 2: A Room a For Mr Mithaiwala. Scroll Below
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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