FF- Its in her kiss, mature 16+ part 10 page 25 Updated 14/09/2014 - Page 4

Apologies for the delay in part 4b, but I hope it was well worth the wait. Thanks to all that read it and I always appreciate the feedback, remember to comment or like whether it is good or bad.

Raman held the door open for Ishitha, who smiled at his gesture and slid into the front passenger seat of Raman's car, the breeze causing Raman to inhale the delicate fragrance of her perfume. Raman quickly walked round and slid into the driver's seat, for both the car and their date tonight. Raman started the car and they started driving to the jewellers. The radio played an old classic...

Kajra mohabbat wala ankhiyo me aisa dala,

Kajre ne le lee meree jan, hai re mai teree kurban

Duneeya hai mere pichhe, lekin mai tere pichhe

Apna bana le meree jan, hai re mai tere kurban

Kajra mohabbat wala ankhiyo me aisa dala

Kajre ne le lee meree jan, hai re mai teree kurban...

On the drive, there was an ease that had started to settle between them. It wasn't like the ride to the resort picnic, but rather a husband and wife that started to share a life. Ishitha was narrating a story about her childhood holidays with relative at the family home in Tamil Nadu and Raman was surprised her with stories of visiting relative in Punjab, where he was a mischievous scoundrel. They had been driving for about 20 minutes chatting and listening to the old bollywood songs that were elevating the mood of the evening. Raman without taking his eyes of the road held out his hand, palm up, for Ishitha to hold, Ishitha immediately placed her hand in his and both their hands rested on the edge of Ishitha's seat as they continued to laugh and joke.

They finally arrived at a small shop in Karol Bagh, Raman quickly stepping out and opening the door for Ishitha, he gave her his hand to help her out. They walked into a store that was filled with traditionally crafted gold jewellery. The shop wasn't the tradition high end, glittering shops with large showrooms, but instead noticed that it had a number of craftsman that made unique and time-honoured heirloom pieces. Raman motioned to Ishitha to follow him into a small office where she was introduced to an elderly man named Ram Singh. Ishitha looked at Raman quizzically, what sort of jewellery was he to buy her? After the disaster with the jewellery that he bought the last time, she didn't want to hurt his feelings and intervene, luckily he brought her along she thought, when she eventually left her head and rejoined the conversation she realised that Raman was describing that he wanted to make Ishitha a ring, he didn't want to replace the wedding ring that she already had but rather gift with another one as the one she had was very fragile and couldn't be word everywhere. Ram sing nodded and continued "Bhaisab, do you want to do what we discussed on the phone? Because I have spoken to our head craftsman and we can do what you have asked". Ishitha was perplexed, what had Raman discussed? Raman smiled and looked at Ishitha with a gleam in his eye, a mischievous twinkle! He knew she was totally in the dark, sitting quietly next to him, bursting with curiosity. Raman looked back at Ram Singh and enquired "but what do we use to get the task completed", to which Ram Singh quickly rose from his desk and dashed out of the room.

Ishitha couldn't wait a minute longer and she moved forward in her chair and instantly clutched Raman's arm and said "Raman, tell me what you're doing, I need to know. I want to be part of the plan too" Raman smiled and nonchalantly said "you don't need to know everything I have planned, Ruhi has not only learned from you but you seem to have picked up her bad habits too. Now I will be stuck with two crazy women in my life". Ishitha playfully swatted his arm and turned away saying "fine, then I don't want to know". Ram Singh re-entered the room and sat at his chair, breathless with beads of sweat that his wiped vigorously from his balding head. He carried a small box, that he opened and placed in front of Raman, from the box Raman extracted the tiniest and thinnest piece of paper. From his pocket Raman took out a Rolex pen and began to write. Ishitha, who wanted to feign disinterest, stealthily leaned forward to see what Raman was writing. In the tiniest script raman could muster he had written "Raman ❤️ Ishitha". He then placed the tiny piece of paper back in the box and handed it back in the box. Ram Singh began to explain the jewellery making process "Bhaisab, this piece of paper will be dipped in a light wax and then placed between two pieces of gold sheets. The craftsman will then bang and mould the layered gold and form a ring. When the ring is formed and polished then will we will etch the ring with a design, the piece of paper will forever be embedded in the ring". Raman nodded and Ram Singh rose from his desk and left the room to start the work on the ring. Ishitha recollected the words that Ram Singh had spoken, dumbfounded by the ring she would be given, she could hold it in no longer and tears welled up in her eyes, she looked down at her hands clasped in her lap.

Raman was looking intently at Ishitha, he reached out and gently lifted her chin and softly whispered "Ishitha, look at me". She looked into his eyes and he continued "nothing can replace the ring that Ruhi made that you keep safe. It will always be a symbol of what brought us together, but you know that you cannot wear it out. For all the times that you have to wear a ring, then you wear this one, and remember that it is a symbol of me that you will have all day, every day. When you look at it in the office, or out shopping you will know what is inside the ring. I love you and you love me". Just then Ram Singh entered the room and said "ok Bhaisab, come back in 2 hours and the ring will be ready".

The next few hours were a blur of happiness and laughter as Raman and Ishitha shared paani poori, drank chai at a roadside stall and did a little window shopping. They walked and talked and Ishitha explained to Raman, what sorts of colours she liked to wear, what she thought as simple south Indian tastes with Raman contradicting her and saying that Punjabi traditional clothes are far more beautiful. They easily traded jokes and insults, all friendly banter. As they approached the car Raman stepped into the jewellery shop and emerged a few minutes later, he helped Ishitha back into the bar and easily steered the car back onto the streets of Delhi. Ishitha enquired "did you get the ring? Can I see it" Raman smiled and said "patience is a virtue Jhansi Ki Rani, you are just going to have to wait". Ishitha continued saying "why are you hiding it from me, I thought it was a gift that you made for me?" Raman without skipping a beat said "well just to torture you, I'm never letting you see it ever, I will have you promise to never speak again if I give it to you". Ishitha who had gotten used to his little taunts shot back "fine, then you can keep the ring and I can continue giving you long lectures, I think it is you who will suffer in the long run", with those words Ishitha laughed out loud at her brilliance and turned up the volume of the Radio. Raman looked at her and back to the road shaking his head, the thought to himself that Ishitha hadn't simply learned from Ruhi but she had also picked up a few tricks from himself.

The car swung into the parking area for Garden of Five Senses, it was beautiful as Raman and Ishitha walked in. the well lit gardens were striking and the night air was enchanting thought Ishitha. Was Delhi always so beautiful, she had never noticed it before, or maybe she hadn't felt this kind of love before? She felt like all her senses were alive, smells were more exotic, colours deeper and flavours richer, she heard music everywhere. Raman and Ishitha walked deeper in the grounds of the garden with Ishitha's hand tucked into the crook of Raman's arm. They approached a bench and both sat down. From his pocket Raman removed the tiny box that Ram Singh had given him, he looked into Ishitha's eyes and began "Ishitha, we have already declared our love to each other and I never married you for love, and before you speak you weren't crazy about me either. We both did it for Ruhi's happiness. Now we feel differently, I love you and I feel you in my every heartbeat, my every breath. I see myself devoted to you and I have made you this simple ring". Ishitha, who was slowly becoming used to this romantic side of raman, placed her hand in his and began "the day we married was a sacrifice for me, I made up my mind that I would be the one to give up my happiness for another soul, Ruhi's life. Little did I know that I would find you, I love you". Raman slipped the ring onto Ishitha's finger and lifted her hand to his lips placing a gentle kiss on the ring. Ishitha finally saw the ring, it was absolutely simple, he had known he tastes after all; this was not some outrageous design but simple understated elegance. As they walked back to the car hand in hand, she could feel Raman's fingers touching the ring, gentle rotating it on her finger.

Was it time for Raman to have his share of Romance thought Ishitha?