Ishra TS: Aftermath of the Havoc [Last Part_Pg-7] - Page 5

When they reached Bala's apartment complex, the rain had already started. "Thanks for dropping us, guys. Hmm..rain and long drive , this two make a deadly combination. Enjoy the ride back home", Bala told them with a smirk just to lighten up the atmosphere. Both Raman and Ishita smiled sheepishly in return. Ishita tried to initiate a small talk after some time but couldn't figure it out how to proceed. If he could understand what impact he had on her to make his loquacious Jhansi ki Rani searching for words, she thought. Raman oblivious to her thought was busy driving. It was raining heavily now and thus needed Raman's full concentration on driving. "Raman, aap gadi ek side pe rok doh, itne bearish may drive karna safe nahi hoga". He heard exactly these words just two days ago; he was elated then hearing her request as he was trying to plan something romantic for them. Things had had turned so different now. "Tum madrassi logon ki raaste pe gadi rokh kar baithe rehne ka shokh hain kya?", he replied back after parking his car on one side of the road. She didn't reply him back but she knew her Ravaan Kumar is back and it was a good sign.

She thought they both needed some time before they finally broke off their silence. She tried to analyze her hasty actions of believing Sanjana and inviting her to the ceremony. She knew she did it to reunite two estranged siblings but deep down she also wanted to get this thing over with. She realized before she was irrecoverably in love with Raman but she also realized he would never reciprocate her feelings. She thus hushed up her feelings and tried to check her emotions as best as she could. During the court case, she felt a stab of jealousy and sadness when she saw her husband siding with his ex-wife. She took it as her fate but this time it was different. She obviously felt a pang of jealousy when Sanjana claimed they had an affair but she felt possessiveness for the very first time. She couldn't swallow that her husband had a relationship with any woman other than Shagun. What even hurt her more was that he chose to hide it from her. She always had her hidden insecurity with Shagun, her describing romantic encounter with Raman was the latest one she experienced. But none of them made her possessive even though she wanted to be. What was changed now then? She was demanding this time; she demanded an explanation from Raman in a subtle manner. When Raman jokingly said "my room", she retorted back for the first time as a typical wife. She made it clear to him she had equal right on everything he possessed and more than that she now only had the right on him. She was never so demanding to anyone in her life. She suddenly realized her romantic dance in the rain two days ago was the reason behind her change of behavior. He made her special for the very first time and the way he behaved during that time it was clear he too had feelings for her. His eyes spoke volumes then to suffice that. Their little conversation at the breakfast table after their romantic encounter was also the disclosure. She understood they would eventually be there as soul mates because they were indeed destined for each other only. She started to believe he belonged to her only. She met Sanjana afterwards and possessive Ishita got the better of rational Ishita for the very first time. Now that she fully understood how things went wrong she tried to gain her husband's attention.

While Ishita was lost in her contemplation, Raman too had the opportunity to ponder about the latest chain of events. Though he was initially sarcastic towards Ishita for telling him stopping the car but later he felt grateful to her for giving him the much needed space. He now had time to think which would've been impossible to do in his chaotic home filled with close relatives and friends. Yes, he was angry with Ishita for believing a stranger but not him. He knew his wife was too innocent but being so gullible all the time would only make their lives difficult. Now he could understand why she reacted so strangely yesterday, her claim of equal partnership now made sense. When he realized by joining the dots that her yesterday reaction was out of jealousy and possessiveness, a small chuckle crept on his face. But it disappeared instantly as he recalled the drama happened in the ceremony. How could people stoop so low? His ex-wife and her good for nothing mother yet again played a game with his family, they didn't even think once that they might snatch Mihir's happiness in the process. They wouldn't spare their own blood to fulfill their demands. He wasn't sure what he had for her was love or pure physical attraction but one thing he's so sure about that he didn't have any kind of feelings for Shagun anymore. Yet he truly couldn't move on. Anyone could have a bad past but his past was evil and this evil past popped out from time to time to hurt people he loved. He now did not get affected by them but he couldn't bear his past coming in between his loved ones' happiness. Previously it used to be Adi, Ruhi or Mihir who had to suffer but now it included Ishita, the one he loved most. Yes, he was aware of his feelings but couldn't convey it to her thinking that associating her with him would only bring sorrow for her. That was why he didn't kiss her when she obliged by closing her eyes in the rain; he wanted to make a promise to erase all her pain away by kissing her but it would only bring her into his engulfing pain. She was a great woman and she was right during the court case that she didn't deserve this. Fate had played cruel jokes on both of them.

Raman was snapped out of his thought when he saw Ishita tuned in the FM radio channel. Ishita was trying to get his attention and to do so she came up with this idea that her husband applied few days back. The FM channel just started playing an old Hindi song:

Musafir Hoon Yaaron Na Ghar Hai Na Thikaana

Mujhe Chalte Jaana Hai Bas Chalte Jaana

Ek Raah Ruk Gayi To Aur Jud Gayi

Main Muda To Saath Saath Raah Mud Gayin

Hawa Ke Paron Par Mera Aashiyaana

Musafir Hoon Yaaron Na Ghar Hai Na Thikaana

Mujhe Chalte Jaana Hai Bas Chalte Jaana...

Ishita couldn't believe her luck, of all songs this disheartening song had to be played tonight when she was trying to start a conversation with Raman! Nothing was going on her way for last few days. She could do nothing but to wait for that song to finish. Though the song perfectly summed up his current state, Raman couldn't stop smirking seeing his wife's antics getting backfired.

"I'm really very sorry, Raman", the only thing Ishita could say when the song ended.

"You don't need to be. You're not the radio jockey after all."

" Aap kabhi serious nahin honge kya? Tragedy main comedy kar rahe ho aap."

"Okay, meri ma. Tum bolo tum sorry kyun ho?"

" Maine kisi stranger ki baato main aakar aap pe shack kya, Mihir ka function kharab kya isliye"

" Main itna hot property hu ke kisiko lag sakti hain mera koi chakkar chal rahe hain. Aur Mihir ke function kharab karne ke liye tumhari gaalti thodi na hain, woh problem to tumhara DNA main hain"

"Ramaaan...", she gave him a fake angry look, she knew he was trying to lighten up her mood.

"Accha suno, I'm sorry and I mean it", he sounded serious.

"For what, Raman?", she couldn't fathom why he sounded so serious all of a sudden.

"For not sharing this fact with you. I was bounded by the promise I made years ago to Mihir but I cannot deny the fact you had every right to know the truth."

"It's okay, Raman. I understand"

"And, I'm very sorry to drag you into this. You always have to bear the consequences of my past. You simply don't deserve this". She was stunned hearing this, she did not see that coming but she didn't hesitate a moment to reply him back.

"Raman, why are you saying like this? Why are you keeping me away from us'? I told you before I have equal right on everything you posses including your past and I meant it. I don't regret a bit facing the scars of your past"

"But Ishita, it's a never ending cycle in my life. Every now and then it will pop up and give you pain, just like it did today. I simply cannot see you in pain; it hurts me to the core. It hurts me when I'm being the reason of your pain. It breaks my heart into pieces when I see the person I love most always has to bear the consequences of my evil past...", he stopped immediately realizing what he had just said. Ishita was elated hearing this, she knew he loved her but she now also knew what was pulling him back.

"Raman, nothing related to you can give me pain. As far as Shagun or Mrs, Prakash is concerned; I don't give them any importance and whatever tricks they'll play we'll face it together. You promised me we'll make new memories together and now I promise you I'll always be with you in every step of your life."

"But I can't promise you any happiness"

"You can promise me that you'll always be by my side and let me always be on your side through thick and thin"

"Always, Ishita"

"That's more than enough for me for this lifetime".

"By the way, when I said the person I loved most I meant Ruhi"

"I know that. I'm also doing all these for Ruhi", Ishita smirked while adjusting the car radio stereo system knob.

They both knew they would not be able to play this "Ruhi ki lye" hide and seek game for too long but they would enjoy this facade now while it lasted. Raman told Ishita to leave the radio knob as he connected his iPhone with the stereo system via Bluetooth. He pressed start Spotify music app on his phone and it started playing a song:

Jise zindagi dhoondh rahi hai

Kya ye woh makaam mera hai

Yahaan chain se bas ruk jaaun

Kyun dil ye mujhe kehta hai

Jazbaat naye se mile hain

Jaane kya asar ye huaa hai

Ik aas mili phir mujhko

Jo qubool kisi ne kiya hai

Kisi shaayar ki ghazal

Jo de rooh ko sukoon ke pal

Koi mujhko yun mila hai

Jaise banjaare ko ghar...

While the song was playing in the background, Raman said, "The rain has subsided. let's go home. Bahut der ho gaya, mamma papa ko lagega maine tumko lekar bhaag gaya". "kuch bhi", Ishita replied with a smirk. But they both knew they were already home.

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With all my heart, and all my soul, I will love you till the winds don't blow. Until the oceans turn to stone, my love is yours and yours alone. My love is forever, until forever's gone -----Kenny Rogers.

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