IshRa OS - Aur paas..

IshRa OS - Aur paas..

Raman couldn't seem to take his eyes off her. She was looking gorgeous, and that was an understatement. If only his brain weren't this fuddled, he would have come up with a better word to describe her.. Like hot, sexy, divine.. Like temptation incarnated. And it wasn't just the man in him that desired her for the woman she was. It wasn't just lust that had him ogling at her like a sixteen year old. It was a conscious realization that he was in love with this woman, his wife. His heart did a certain flip-flop at the word wife. He'd always called her pagal Madrasan and Jhansi ki rani and what not. He'd boastfully proclaimed her to be his wife to her and to the world at many times but never had he paused to let the word and its implications sink in. Never had he paused to listen to what his heart had to say about giving her that place in his life. It had all changed with one innocent, yet heartfelt remark that Ruhi had made.

When Ruhi had walked into the bidding venue for the "Save a Girl Child" project holding onto Ishita's hand that day, he'd seen the pain Shagun's false accusations had caused his little angel in her eyes. When Ishita asked him to sit down and talk to Ruhi, in front of the Ashok, Shagun and all the media gathered, Raman had no idea what she was upto. Then Ruhi had explained, in her innocent way, that she was going to take his test to see if he loved her. Her questions had been as simple and innocent as his little angel was and Raman had answered all of them in a jiffy. The little girl's heart had been placated and she'd enveloped him in the warmest hug that they'd shared till date. After Ruhi's birth, this was probably the most soul stirring moment he'd had with his daughter. Even then, at the back of his mind, even before Ruhi told him so, he knew that he had Ishita to thank for this precious moment; for helping him reconnect with his daughter and so many other things that he couldn't even begin to list. Then, Ruhi had said to him in her same innocent tone, "Papa, I should've been in Ishimaa's tummy. Why did you ask God to put me in Shagun Mumma's tummy? Why didn't you marry Ishimaa first?" Raman felt something melt, shift and settle in his chest and with that it seemed as if everything had changed inside him. He had looked at Ishita, standing a few feet away. Her eyes were filled with tears yet, she had that calm, peaceful smile playing on her lips. Why? Why hadn't she come in his life first? Why wasn't she the one who had given life to Ruhi? Why couldn't Ruhi have been the seed of their love - his and hers? And that was the moment when Raman Bhalla realized he was in love with her. He wanted to re-write his past so that she could be in it. He knew that wasn't possible. But she was with him now.. Until forever.. And he had promised himself that their forever would be happily ever after.

A tap on his shoulder broke him out of his reverie. Raman turned around to see Bala right beside him. "Can't take your eyes off her, eh?" Bala asked with a teasing smile. Raman hoped that the sudden warmth seeping into his skin wasn't a stupid blush. "No! No! Nothing like that.." Raman said shaking his head. "I don't blame you. You are her husband after all and Ishu is looking really nice today," Bala commented. Nice?! Raman wanted to laugh. If only Bala knew of the thoughts that were running through his head right now regarding how Ishita was looking. She was wearing that white net saree that Raman had bought for her for the Varalakshmi Pooja. Her hair was left loose and fell in soft waves framing her perfect face. She was dancing away to "Baby Doll.." unmindful of the havoc she was creating in him. "You know.. When life gives you a second chance, you should grab it," Bala commented. Raman looked at him puzzled. "I know your past hasn't been the best Raman, but you can't forever live in your past.. And you can't let the shadows of your past keep you from moving on and enjoying your present and future. Ishu and you.. You got bound together for Ruhi's sake but I am sure both of you know by now that your relationship has progressed to being more than just a compromise for Ruhi's sake. I know both of you have your pasts that make you hesitant to acknowledge the fact and to take your relationship further but somebody needs to make that first move. You guys deserve so much more from this relationship, from each other," Bala continued while Raman's gaze remained fixed on Ishita's laughing form as she danced away a few feet ahead of him. "I am sorry. I know this is a very personal matter and I shouldn't interfere but I really want to see both of you get the happiness that you deserve in life. You are both good people Raman and it would be a pity if you waste your lives trying to save yourselves from the heartache that you would never get from each other in the first place. You only live once Raman.. You only live once.." Bala said as he patted Raman's back once more and walked away.

Raman was lost in thought. Everything Bala had said was true. The reason he never acknowledge the palpable tension building up between him and Ishita, always looking to disperse it with one of his cheeky one-liners, was because he was afraid.. He was afraid to acknowledge what he felt for her. But there was no need to be afraid. This was Ishita.. The woman who'd set his life straight. She fought with him, lectured him but stood by him and cared for him just the same. Even thinking of comparing her with Shagun would be a crime. Bala was right, it was time they acknowledged the relationship they shared - between the two of them, that had blossomed on its own and wasn't just for Ruhi's sake.

"Sir," Raman turned around to find the hotel manager. "Sir, I hope you are liking the arrangements so far?" the manager asked. "Yes! Its great! Thank you," he replied. "Sir, on behalf of the hotel management, we'd like to gift a one-night stay in the honeymoon suite to the newly-weds tonight. Here are the keys," the manager said holding out the key-cards to Raman. "But, they are leaving to Goa tonight right after the reception," Raman replied. "Oh well Sir, the room has already been reserved and this is part of the banquet hall package that was booked.." the manager said. "Oh okay," Raman said as he pocketed the keys. His gaze then returned to Ishita for a brief second before he walked away.

***

"Where is Raman Bhai?" Mihir asked. Ishita looked around but Raman was nowhere to be seen. Everyone had gathered in the hotel lobby to see off Mihir and Mihika who were heading off to Goa. Everyone, except Raman. "Kya Mihir? You need your Raman bhai even when you are going for your honeymoon?" Vandu teased him. "No.. No.. Its not like that.." Mihir tried to explain while everyone laughed. "Arey! Now stop with all the teasing and let them go or they'll miss their flight," Mr. Bhalla said. Everyone hugged the newly weds and waved them bye as Mihir and Mihika left.

"Waise.. Yeh Raman kithe reh gaya?" Toshiji asked after Mihir and Mihika had left. "Patha nahi Mummyji. Reception hall mein tho the.. Lagta hai neeche nahi aaye, main dekhke aathi hoon.." Ishita said. "Bhabhi main bhi chaltha hoon," Romi immediately pitched in. "Arey nahi Romi, tum sabko lekar ghar jao. Itni raath ho gayi hai, sab log thak gaye honge. Main Raman ko lekar aathi hoon," Ishita replied. "Theek hai puttar. Dhyaan rakhna," Toshiji said. The Iyers and the Bhallas left and Ishita headed back to the banquet hall where the reception had just taken place.

***

"Raman? Raman? Aap ho kya yahan?" Ishita asked as she walked into the huge white covered canopy that had been set up for the reception. The lights had been turned off so the only light was the silvery glow from the full moon that adorned the sky. Ishita carefully made her way through the milieu of chairs and tables till she spotted a figure at the far end. "Raman?" she called out. He looked up at her and even in the faint moonlight streaming in she could feel the intensity of his gaze as it heated up her skin. Her heart immediately picked up speed. The aura of the night bathed in silver moonlight, the intensity of his gaze, the awareness of being alone with him, the ambience of white lilies and wedding dcor standing testimony to a love fulfilled - it was a dangerous combination. She was being a fool. In order to diffuse the tension that seemed to have filled the air, she started blabbering. "Aap yahan baithe ho? Sab log aapko patha nahi kabse dhoond rahe the. Aap aaye kyun nahi Mihir aur Mihika ko see-off karne? Aur waise aap yahan akele, andhere mein kyun baithe hain?" She blabbered as she walked towards him. He didn't say a word but that dark, hooded gaze of his remained fixed on her, unnerving her. "Waise reception mein bahut maza aaya na? Yeh reception Punjabi tareeke se karne ka idea achcha tha na? Shaadi hamare Madrasi tareeke se ho gayi aur reception mein Punjabi dhamaal bhi ho gaya tho dono families khush," she laughed nervously and involuntarily, her hands reached for her necklace to fiddle with.

"Mera necklace?" Ishita was surprised to find her necklace missing. "Mummyji ne itne pyaar se diya tha.. Patha nahi kahan gir gaya?" she said moving chairs and tables frantically looking for her necklace. Raman sat unmoving and Ishita turned to yell at him, "Meri madad kijiye na.." but stopped when she saw him holding out her necklace. "Yeh aapke paas tha! Aap batha nahi sakthe the? Khamakha mujhe tension mein daal diya. Laayiye dijiye.." she held out her hand to him.

Raman stood up at that. "Yahan aake lelo," he said. His voice had an edge that Ishita couldn't comprehend. She walked a couple of nervous paces towards him. "Dijiye," she held out her hand. "Aur paas," his voice seemed to glide over her skin in a caress and she shivered. Still attempting desperately to diffuse the tension building up between them, she protested, "Aap bhi na.. Kabhi kabhi bilkul Ruhi ke jaise behave karte ho." Saying that she took another step towards him, trying to keep a safe distance between them. He shook his head almost imperceptibly as he whispered, "Aur paas." His gaze never left hers and Ishita was afraid that if she got any closer, he'd hear her thundering heartbeat. She wasn't even sure she could take another step - something about the way he was looking at her, something in his voice was making her go weak in her knees. She swallowed hard and protested in a small voice, "Yeh kya aur paas aur paas laga rakha hai? Dena hai tho dijiye warna main jaa rahi hoon." Saying so, she turned on her heel to make a hasty exit but was stopped by a tug on the pallu of her saree. She placed her hand on her shoulder to stop her pallu from coming off. She looked over her shoulder to see that Raman was tugging at her pallu. "Aur paas," he whispered huskily pulling her towards him and she moved a step back. "Aur paas," his voice was the softest whisper ever now as he pulled her towards him. "Aur paas" he whispered again and when Ishita took a step back, she crashed right into him. Raman's arm crept along her waist holding her prisoner. Ishita clenched her hand so tight, her nails were digging into her palms. With his other arm, Raman placed the necklace around her neck. The cool metal on her heated skin was torture of the worst kind. His warmth breath tickled against the nape of her neck as he fastened the necklace in place. And then she felt his lips, on the crook of her neck. Ishita gasped at the sensation. His lips trailed a path of fire on her skin, up the column of her neck to her earlobe, where he ever so gently whispered, "I love you Ishita."

The world could have exploded around her just then but she wouldn't have known. Her heart, mind, body, soul - everything was attuned to Raman in that one moment. She turned towards him ever so slowly. This time round, she knew he wasn't joking. She could see it in his eyes, feel it in his heart. Wordlessly, she hugged him tight. "I.. I love you too Raman.. I love you too.." she replied on a choked whisper.

Time seemed to be standing still for both them as they reveled in their newfound love. Ishita raised her head to look at Raman. He cupped her face gently and his eyes seemed to ask her a question that only her heart understood. In response, she closed her eyes and leaned in. He caught her lips in a breathtakingly passionate kiss that left neither of them in any doubt about what would happen tonight. It should have scared Ishita, the intensity of his desire, but she found an answering intensity uncoil somewhere deep inside her. Like she was moth attracted so helplessly to the flame of his desire.

What he was feeling right at that moment he could never put into words. Even when he'd assured himself there was nothing to be afraid of, that what he'd seen in her eyes on more occasion than once was love for him, the truth was he had been apprehensive about laying his heart bare. But hearing her say those three words made him feel like he was in seventh heaven. This woman in his arms, his pagal Madrasan, his Jhansi ki Rani - was his to fight with, to tease, to taunt and to love and to cherish for the rest of his life. And the rest of his life was about to start right now.

He broke off the kiss only long enough to pick her up in his arms. She looked away blushing and he realized he loved it when she blushed. In long strides, he made his way out of the terrace canopy into the lobby to the farthest end where the penthouse honeymoon suite awaited them. The satin white bedspread, the bashful white lilies, the dancing candle flames, the scattered rose petals, the silvery moonlight and the music of the night stood witness to their passionate encounter.. as they came together for the very first time.. as husband and wife.

****