Ishita got up with the ring of the alarm on her bedside and hurriedly turned it off, to avoid disturbing Raman's sleep. She switched on the bedside lamp as it was still dark outside and glanced at her palms. Henna had dired off and came out in few places but her eyes focused on his name which Toshi got it written on her right hand. It was just at the edge of her hand and hardly anyone could make out, if not told earlier but she blushed remembering his sentence and got up to freshen up before glancing at his sleeping figure.
"Sorry Mummyji thoda late ho gaya." Ishita spoke as she saw Toshi in kitchen.
"Arre koi nai puttar." Toshi said placing food on the platform. Ishita went to her and touched her feet "Jeendi reh, sada suhagan reh." Toshi kissed her forehead "khush reh."
Ishita smiled as her eyes glistened with tears, well happy emotional tears of experiencing something so pure.
"Chal aaja, aaj tujhe sargi deti hoon." Both headed to dining table with trays filled with food.
"Goodmorning ma." They both turned their head towards the room as they saw Raman heading out, well freshened up. "Raman tu kyun uth gaya ?" Toshi asked as he took chair next to Ishita, who was looking at him confused
"Aap itni jaldi toh uthte nai hain." Ishita questioned. Raman looked to boring gaze of two ladies. He could make out the faint smile on his mother's face but his wife had a question mark on her forehead.
Taking a deep breath " Meine vrat rakha hai." Finally her mother's faint smiled turned into a broad one while Ishita looked shocked.
"Par aap kyun rakh rahe hain? Yeh ladies rakhti hai." Ishita tried to reason, maybe more like convincing herself that it cant be true.
"Kyun ? Aacha hai na puttar Raman ne tere vaste vrat rakha hai jaise tune uss layi." Toshi said visibly proud of her son
"But.." ishita looked at him and he knew he had to speak as she is going to continue further.
"See you keep two fasts for me in an year , atleast I have to keep one for you too because I am quite used to of your lectures and I think I need them for rest of my life." Raman explained slyly and blush crept on her face.
"Ab CID inquiry puri ho gayi hai toh kha lun mein kyunki tum toh mera dimag khaogi pura din, mere pass kuch nai hoga khane ke liye." Raman said and she nodded. Toshi smiled at the couple ahead of her.
"Mummy kya banaya hai?" Romi walked out of his room, rubbing his eyes with hairs messed up.
"Brush karke bhi aaya hai ki nai?" Toshi questioned
"Haan haan. Kya baat karte ho mummyji." Romi answered opening his eyes and stood there of a moment. "Bhai aap?" Romi asked and Raman shook his head while Ishita concealed a smile.
"Haan Raman ne vrat rakha hai Ishita ke liye." As soon as toshi said these lines, mischievous smile was on Romi's face and he sat next to Toshi.
"Kya baat bhai ?" Romi said, taking a ladoo in his hand.
"Tu subah subah kya kar raha hai ?" Raman asked ignoring his statement.
"Arre itna aacha khana roz thodi milta hai. Khake fir so jaunga." Romi smiled and Ishita laughed at his antics.
"Yehi kaam ho na ma toh kabhi nai uthega. Khaane ke liye aadhi raat uth gaya." Raman said annoyed while taking a spoonful of kheer.
"Bhabhi dekho bhai ko. Subah subha daantenge."
"Raman khaane do na Romi ko araam se."
"Haan haan bilkul. Tumhe toh waise hi maaza aata hai mere opposite bolne mein."
"Meine aisa kab kaha."
"Toh ab kya kar rahi thi."
"Oe chup karo dono . Aaj ke subh din bhi koi ladta hai. Raman bilkul ni daantna bahu ko tune uska vrat hai."
"Aap bhul rahi hai ki mera bhi vrat hai." Romi coughed at his statement only to recieve a napkin ball on his face from Raman.
"Jo bhi hai. Aaj tune Ishita nu kuch kaha toh mere se bura koi nai hoga." Ishita smiled victoriously at Raman "Aur Romi tu chup karke kha nai sakta." Toshi ordered and he quietly ate but couldnt control giving his brother side glances .They all were done with eating "Ishita puttar ek kaam kar soja jaake, abhi sirf 5 toh baje hain."
"Ji." Ishita smiled and headed towards her room.
Ishita opened her mouth to speak as she saw Raman lying on the bed
"Quiet. We are not talking about Karvachauth." Raman warned
"I was just going to appreciate you. You are being so sweet recently." She said sheepishly
"Nothing to get overjoyed about anything. Its just for diet control. "
"Ohh.. fir toh har month mein karvachauth aana chaheye. Nai?"
"Dimag hai nai toh use kyun karti ho. So jao na yaar 5 baje hain sirf."
"Mujhe koj shaunk nai hai aapse baat karne ka."
"Pehli baar tumhare shaunk se khush hua hoon mein."
"Very funny."
"Pata hai."
"Ravan kumar." Ishita muttered and lied down on couch, knowing that Raman's back would be giving him trouble due to last night's sleep
Raman got up with the noise from outside. "Drama company kholi hui hai" he muttered and pushed the duvet aside. He got up and saw Ishita's sleeping demeanour. Her hairs fanned on pillow with arm placed on her forehead. He could see her mehndi which was the darkest he ever saw. He did notice it on dining table but tried to avoid it since Romi already creating a choas on table. He smiled looking again at his name, how cliched ! But these cliched things are making his heart warm up with affection.
He shook his head thinking about himself and how these not so new but truely new in every sense feelings seeding in his heart again. He fell and broke in love, maybe blind love but today he knew that he is going to fall and rise in love. The lady at his sight was impossible, well he has never come across anyone so pure, so caring , selfless and giving. She maynot have feelings for him, well his heart does think the opposite but he knows that her presence with him for life long even as a friend is enough for him.
The noises grew outside and Ishita moved in her place "Chup nai reh sakte." he said looking towards the door.
Raman went outside before shutting their room's door to allow his wife to sleep comfortably.
He looked at the choas happening in the room Mihir, Romi , Mihika , Shrawan , Ruhi and Mr Bhalla were laughing hard as Toshi said something "Lal hua tha tamatar jaise." He immediately understood the context of the talk and it was him. God bless me.
"Kya ho raha hai ? Circus ground hai kya? Uth jayegi Ishi-" and all had there jaw drop. Mihika was first to recover "Aww jiju that is so cute." Mihika teased
"Bhai aap toh mujhe competition de rahe ho." Mihir said moving towards Raman
"Beta agar tujhe ulte haath ka pad gaya toh competition ban jayega tera " Mihir raised his hands in defense.
Romi chuckled in background. "Papa aapne fast rakha hai ishima ke liye ?" Ruhi asked innocently and all break out laughing
"Raman." Ishita's voice came from behind as she walked out of room
"Idiots." Raman muttered at the crowd ahead.
"Akkka." Mihika hugged her "Happy karvachauth."
"Thank you."Ishita smiled .
"Jiju you too." Mihika added nudging Ishita by elbow. Raman faked a smile. "Mihika." Ishita warned her and Mihika mouthed a sorry.
"Waise Bhai, aapne bhabhi ko gift kya diya?" Romi asked, why should he be left alone when everyone else is having fun at his expense.
"Ma isse samjha lo. Fir aap bologe ki aapke ladle ko maara meine." Raman glared at him and he ran towards toshi.
"Bas bahut ho gaya. Koi Raman se kuch nai puchega." Mr. Bhalla said and Raman took a sigh of relief. "Waise puttarji aacha laga." Mr.bhalla whispered in Raman's ear on his way to his room and Raman smiled watching his father being proud of him.
The day went at a high speed coster. Raman hardly saw Ishita the entire day but was gathered around by Ruhi and Romi, as per Ishita's strict instructions, who came up with a weird idea of useless game and even made him watch some James Bond movies. Ishita was busy with her mother-in-law, they went to temple and then to ladies gathering where all enjoyed themselves with ancient stories and obviously tales of their Husband's carelessness.
Ishita excused herself as Toshi instructed her to change for the evening puja.
"Aap tikh ho?" Ishita asked as she saw him lying on the bed with head ducked in the pillow. She went to his side and sat next to him.
"Raman ?" She said again and Raman turned towards her. He looked tired and her heart sank
"Kya hua?"
"Kuch nai hua. Tum aapna kaam karo." He said sounding irritated.
"Raman tabiyat tikh hai?" She asked, her voice loaded with concern and he softened
"Bas thoda sir dard ho raha hai."
"Meine kaha tha mat vrat rakho. Mujhe pata tha aapki tabiyat kharab ho jayegi."
"Yr tum lecture dena band karogi, aur dard hone lag jayega."
"Tablet dun aapko?"
"Dimag kharab hai ?"
"Raman aadha din rakh liya na, bahut hai. Aap le lo and kuch khaoge toh tikh ho jayega." Ishita's eyes mirrored with a water film and he knew she is going to cry in another minute.
"Ishita." He got up and sat facing her "look at me." Ishita looked at him
"I am fine and its evening. Hardly few hours left."
"Should I massage your forehead ?" Ishita asked and he nodded.
He lied down again and Ishita sat near his head. Her fingers traced the dimensions of his forehead gently and he closed his eyes relaxed. He could see how tired she looked too but the shine in her eyes didn't go amiss. As her fingers worked, he went into a deep slumber. She looked at him and stroked his hairs as she saw him drifting to sleep.
Toshi came in to check on Ishita and saw Ishita gently stroking Raman's hair while he slept contently under her shadow. "Ishita" toshi whispered to gain her attention. Ishita looked at her " Puttar puja shuru hone waali hai."
"Bas aayi mummyji."
Half heartedly Ishita left Raman's side to change and sit for puja.
Ishita looked at her wardrobe and her hand went for kanjivaram saree but then her mind replayed Raman's sentence " Ab tum punjaban ho, behave like one." She smiled and took out a maroon saree with heavy golden work on it. Considering that red or maroon color was auspicious for the occasion and it did made her feel like married to a Punjabi, she wore it.
Ishita stepped out of room bit nervous
"Ishita ?" She turned to see Toshi waiting for her
"Bahut pyaari lag rahi hai. Sabse sundar. "
"Thanku Mummyji." Ishita shied. Toshiji took some kohl from eyes and applied at back of Ishita's ear "Nazar na lage tujhe inni pyaari lag rahi hai tu." Ishita smiled
Raman came out of deep slumber, his head still mildly ached but was far better. He looked around and it was already 8.
"Ishita?" It crossed his mind but since he could hear some voice, he made out moon was still not out.
"Oe Raman ko uthao koi. Chand nikal aaya hai shayad" He heard his father speaking and then his door opened
"Bhai aap uth gaye ? Jaldi change karke aa jao,chand aa gaya hai."
"Mihir?" He called and Mihir turned from the door towards him.
"Ishita kahan hai ?"
" woh sab ladies terrace pe hain. Shayad chand ko dekhne gayi hain. "
"Ok. Chal tu nikal, mein aata hoon." Raman said scratching his forehead.
He got up and looked at the white sherwani already kept out for him and smiled at the thought of his wife.
He moved to the terrace and saw hustle bustle, maybe it was false alarm then. He remembered varalakshmi puja, it was almost calm up there. But the moment spoke volumes. He clearly remembered having a messy fight over a saree and also he called her fasting a pretense only to feel like slapping himself when his mother enlightened of Ishita's fast despite his disapproval. The moment Ishita looked at him through sieve all her anger was transformed into tears and he hated himself more for being the cause of them. But then she revealed, when he apologised, that she was not crying due their fight but instead she felt being the cause of his problems at office. Raman couldnt help but wipe off her tears and whispered " Nothing matters more than your happiness."
"I will bring back your pride" she replied.
Raman's trance was broken at Pammi aunty's voice "Dekh Raman tere aate hi chand aa gaya. Pehle aa jaanda. " all laughed and then he caught the glance of his wife who looked at him just at the same moment and it stood still. She looked ethereal in that sarre, basically divine. He walked towards her and she smiled as he almost covered the distance
"You look..well different." Raman said
"Thank you, thought of looking like a Punjabi." Ishita answered and both chuckled.
"Hows your headache?"
"Much better." They for the first time didnt need taunts to convey feelings and it was equally beautiful
"Chal Ishita Raman vrat kholo." Ishita stood with her head covered with pallu of her saree. She looked at the moon through sieve and then at Raman, both basked in the glorious moonlight. They looked through the sieve at each other and made an unsaid promise of togetherness for lifetime
A/N - Hope able to justice. Hope you like it
Ruchi
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Bindi
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