IshRa FF Strangers Chapter 22-27 Page 94-95 *Completed* (3/3/15) - Page 2

Chapter 1

"Mihika! Can't you just invite him over for dinner or something? Do what is normal for a change?" Ishita asked her younger sister as she stared at herself in the mirror. She was dressed in a modest knee length asymmetrical green dress that she'd bought just today at Mihika's insistence. "Oh come on Akka! You'll probably be the only female in all of Delhi who is not excited about attending a Page 3 party!" Mihika commented as she curled her hair. "As it is, Mihir has made a very intelligent plan. You know meeting all those high-profile businessmen and networking with them will help me in my career," she explained. "Then why are you dragging me along?" Ishita protested as she tried on the earrings Mihika got for her. "Haw Akka! How mean! I mean, you don't even want to know who your younger sister's boyfriend is? What kind of a guy he is? If he is right for me or not?" Mihika exclaimed. "Yeah right! As if I'll say no and you'd leave him," Ishita replied. "I know for sure you'll like him, Akka. He is such a sweet, caring, handsome, intelligent.." Ishita interrupted Mihika, "Enough! Enough! Tell me something. Couldn't you find a sweet, caring, handsome, intelligent Tamil Brahmin boy? You had to go and fall in love with a meat-eating Punjabi boy?" "What Akka? You are sounding like Periamma now.. I am so sure she is going to say the exact same dialogue when I tell her about Mihir." Mihika said as she hugged Ishita. "I think so too. Except the dialogue delivery will be more dramatic and interspersed with her favorite phrase abundantly," Ishita chuckled looking at Mihika. "Aiyo Murugan!" both the sisters chimed in the same exaggerated tone that Madhavi Iyer used and laughed.

***

"You know I'm doing this only for you? Right," Raman Kumar Bhalla stated stepping out of his car only to be immediately surrounded by flashing lights and microphones thrust in his face. "Mr. Bhalla! You are attending Mr. Saxena's party. Is this an indication of another takeover or merger? How much has the deal been finalized for?" Raman had gotten so used to the ways of the paparazzi, he wasn't even surprised anymore at their ability to jump to conclusions and make long drawn connections. Before he could walk away, ignoring the media like he always did, Mihir stepped in front of him, "There are no mergers or takeovers planned as of now. This is just a social event and nothing else," he explained to the media. Mihir had a knack for dealing with the media. He was always diplomatic and politically correct no matter how nonsensical the questions were, Raman thought. As for Raman himself, he did not have that kind of patience, especially when it came to dealing with nonsense and foolishness and he was grateful that Mihir stepped in to the role of his PR without being asked to. "Bhai, come on lets go," Mihir said and both of them walked into the hotel lobby. "Listen Mihir! Are you sure that Madrasan you are dating will fit into a party like this? I mean, is she going to turn up wrapped in nine yards of silk and decorated with four yards of jasmine or something?" Raman asked jokingly. "No Bhai! Mihika may be a Tamil Brahmin but she is modern too. Just the right balance," Mihir declared proudly. " And she is the sweetest, most caring, honest, fun.." Mihir was interrupted by Raman. "Enough! Enough! Tell me one thing.. Couldn't you find a sweet, caring, honest, fun Punjabi girl instead? You had to fall in love with an idli sambhar girl?" "Love is blind Bhai. It does not see idli-sambhar or butter chicken," Mihir replied dramatically. "Oye poor man's Shakespeare! Enough! Let's get this over with as soon as possible," Raman plastered a fake wide smile on his face as he walked into the hall where the party was going on.

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"They are here Akka!" Mihika squealed with delight. "They?" Ishita asked, "I thought we were here to meet just Mihir. Who are they?" "Oh I forgot to mention Akka. Mihir has an older brother. Well, they aren't really brothers but Mihir considers him his older brother. He is a big businessman. He has won awards and all. What was the recent one he won? Oh yes.. CEO of the year or something.." Mihika explained excitedly. "I can't remember his name right now but yeah, Mihir worships the ground he walks on.. " she continued. "Akka, I am looking okay na? I am almost scared that if this big brother of Mihir's doesn't like me, Mihir's and my love story will sees it's the end tonight itself," Mihika said straightening invisible creases on her floor length purple dress. "What do you mean by if he doesn't like you? Only a blind fool wouldn't like you.." Ishita reassured her. Mihir's brother.. Hmmm.. Something about this man she hadn't even met was ringing warning bells in Ishita's head. Ishita barely had time to finish the thought when someone crashed into her and spilled their drink on her dress. "Aiyo!" Ishita exclaimed as the lady who'd bumped into her apologized profusely.

"Yes Mihir.. Yes! Yes! I'm coming," Mihika spoke on her phone. She turned towards Ishita and saw that Ishita's dress had been messed up. "Aiyo Akka! They are here. What do we do now? They are by the doors to the lobby. I'll ask them to wait," Mihika said nervously. "No! No! Don't make them wait. Its alright. You go meet them. I'll just go to the restroom and meet you there," Ishita replied. "Are you sure Akka? I can come help you. I am sure they wouldn't mind waiting for a few minutes. Or you could come meet them and then go to the restroom?" Mihika asked. "In this state?" Ishita asked pointing to her dress. The stain of the drink was starting to set in. "Don't worry. You go meet them and I'll join you guys in 5 minutes," Ishita said as she hurried Mihika along and went to the restroom herself.

***

"Where is your Madrasan yaar? You know I have a very important conference call in an hour," Raman asked. "I called her Bhai. They are here already. I've told her where we are. They must be coming," Mihir replied looking out for Mihika. "They?" Raman asked. "Oh yeah! Mihika is here with her cousin. She is.." Mihir replied offhandedly. Raman drowned out the rest of what Mihir was saying as he heard his phone ring. "Its Tandon! I have to take this call. You do one thing. Go find your Mallika while I take this call," Raman instructed Mihir. "Not Mallika, bhai.. Her name is Mihika," Mihir corrected him. "Mihika, Mallika.. Same difference," Raman said before he turned away and answered the call. The noise inside was way too much and Raman stepped out into the lobby to answer the call.

***

Ishita washed the stain off her dress as best as she could and dried it under the hand dryer in the washroom. She gave herself a once over in the mirror before returning to the party. Mihika had said they'd be near the door to the lobby, Ishita thought as she headed in the direction. When she got there, there was no sign of Mihika. Now where could she look for her? The Party hall was huge and packed. It seemed as if all of Delhi's elite had assembled in that one hall. The perfumes, the music, the lights - Ishita was feeling suffocated. She decided she'd step out for some fresh air and maybe try calling Mihika to see where she was. Ishita turned and walked out towards the lobby.

***

The muffled noise came from just a few feet ahead. It took Ishita a few seconds to realize that it was the sound of a gunshot and she screamed in horror. The man who had been right in front of her now lay slumped on the floor in a pool of blood, a hole through his chest. Raman was talking on his phone and had turned at the sound of Ishita's scream to become a shocked witness to the murder. A man, his face partly covered by shadows, stood a few feet away with a gun in hand. In the time that it took for Raman and Ishita to recover from their shock, the guards at the entrance on either side of them had been shot dead too, along with the reception staff. Raman acted on quick impulse, grabbed Ishita by her waist and hid behind the pillars of the porch just as a bullet whizzed right past them missing them by bare inches.

Ishita's breathing was in ragged gasps and afraid that it would alert the killer to their presence, Raman covered her mouth with his free hand while still holding her against him. She offered no resistance at all and Raman realized she was still in shock. He had to make sure they were safe before anything else. They couldn't hide there for long. The killer would find them. He looked around quickly for a means of escape when he spotted something. Knowing that if he gave himself the time to think, he would end up getting this woman and himself killed, Raman crouched down, pulling her with him. He hugged her to him as he rolled from behind the pillar to the nearby bushes. Keeping an eye out for any kind of movement around him, Raman rolled over and over till they'd reached the far end of the wall. He heard muffled voices and footsteps but they seemed far off. Then, he heard the starting of engines. Maybe the killer was giving up his search for them in fear of getting caught. But he couldn't be sure just yet. At the far end of the wall, he straightened up and pulled the stranger up against him. She had started to shiver from shock and he held her just a little tighter. "Its okay. I promise I won't let anything happen to you. I promise" he whispered ever so gently into her ear.

Making sure there was no one in sight, he plastered himself against the wall. Still holding onto Ishita tight he walked till they made it to the back gate. Outside the building, he darted across the street, with Ishita in tow. He ran through narrow alleyways and side roads, taking care to remain in the shadows, not once letting go of Ishita's hand. When he was sure they were out of harm's way, he pulled out his mobile and made a call.

"Hello! Abhi. Its me Raman. I need your help.."

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