Part 3
After a day full of surprises, when he came back home, he felt a peace about him, like everything was finally falling in place, it was 10:30 PM when two little hands hugged his legs from behind, as he was busy in shuffling his cupboard, he first took out a pair of pajamas and a tees and turning back on heel he picked up the little doll clinging to his legs, he smiled at her brightly and then kissed her on her cheek and said in a very soft voice, a voice reserved for only her, his Ruhi, "My princess, aap yahan kya kar rahi ho? Dadi kahan hai?"
She softly replied while caressing his cheek with her little fingers, "Dadi apna room set kar rahi hain... papa mujhe ice-cream khana hai..." Ruhi said cutely.
"Ice cream, abhi?", he looked at the time and then said, vaise fridge mein bhi toh haina?" he inquired.
"Par mujhe Choco chip khani hai..." she pleaded with a puppy look.
He sighed, only if he had the courage to say no to her, he would have, he put her down and said walking towards the door, "Okay... chalo. But Ruhi only one... wahan zidd nahi karogi... okay?"
"Promise." She said excitedly jumping in excitement.
After a short drive they entered a small ice cream parlor, not many people were there, only a couple was seated at one corner and a bunch of three girls on another, he went straight to the counter and ordered a cup of choco-chip ice cream, while Ruhi was in his arms, her one arm encircling his neck while she was looking curiously at the person serving her order.
After a few moments as she got what she wanted, they both sat on one of the chairs so that she could enjoy her ice-cream while he sat opposite her, indulged in his Apple iphone, checking mails.
He was still in his office attire, a white shirt and blue pants, no tie, and few buttons of the top of shirt left open and also the cuffs loosened and sleeves scrolled up in three folds, his casual way and serious looks and his company were all making him highly attractive prospect, a drool worthy figure. He was attracting the attention of all the people present.
A while later...
"OMG! Ye yahan kya kar rahe hain...?" Mihika said in bewilderment attracting the attention of her company.
"Kaun Mihiku?" Ishita asked as she put the melting black-current in her mouth causing a sound of *slurp*.
"Woh... Mihir ke Bhai cum boss..." she said casually, causing Ishita to cough as she looked towards where Mihika's eyes were fixed, she gulped the remaining ice cream in one go and whispered hurriedly and said, "Let's go guys... quickly... if you have forgotten already, Mihir's boss is my boss too!"
"Oh! Yes yes! But Ishu, he is so hot yaar! I mean just look at him..." Vandu said with a dreamy look, while looking at him.
"Akka... you are right... he is really hot! I have seen him in parties, he is a charm..." Mihika said looking in his direction.
"Will you stop it guys... and Mihika he is married, and even has a daughter..." quite angry about where the discussion was going.
"Oh! Then it must be his daughter..." Vandu exclaimed.
"Daughter!" the word had Ishita's ears stand and she turned his way, looking at the little doll sitting infront of him, whose back was on their side, her hair bound in a pony, were long and silky, while from the skin of her neck she could make out that she was fairer than her father, while the father who was facing them, had all his attention on his daughter and smile was plastered on his, otherwise serious face.
She could feel his genuine delight, her heart swelled with the unknown warmth filling her with a craving to have such a man in her life, her eyes unconsciously travelled from his deep black ocean of mysteries, to his sharp nose, to secret beholder- his lips and his smooth but his daunting personality. What was about him so tantalizing that was making her weak infront of him, even in his far away presence, she could feel her heart beat fast, it was like it would come out, she looked at him, his attractive personality and that soft smile playing upon his lips were making a fluttery feeling in her heart
"Guys, now if you have enjoyed the view then let's go... I don't want to be caught here." Ishita pleaded.
While Mihika looked at her and then at Vandu with a teasing smile and said, "Akka... why are you so nervous, I mean I understand he is your boss, but right now its your home time and even if he sees you here, I don't see any possible reason for him to hold you... unless..." she looked from Ishita to Vandu and winked, trying to infer the hidden meaning.
Ishita looked at her with widened eyes.
"Come on Ishu, I am also watching you, from the time you came to know of his presence here, you are acting weird since then, Are you having crush on him as well?" Vandu asked, trying to act as normal in her tone as possible, perfectly hiding her surprise under her straight face.
"Akka! How can you even say that? I mean you know I have not loved anyone except for Subbu and here you..." Ishita protested but was cut,
"Ishu... I was not talking of love, but crush! And it's perfectly fine if you like him, having crush on someone is normal and on him its inevitable. I mean look at him, he is just perfect! Only thing is he isn't single, aah well that's sad, such a loss for us..." Vandu winked at her.
"But Akka, I have never seen him with anyone, I even asked Mihir about it, but he avoided the topic. I think he might be single..." Mihika said.
"Come on then", with that Vandu stood up and so did the other two.
Ishita, looked at him and his daughter, one last time, and a smile crossed her lips as she took in the view of him conversing with the little angel animatedly, and followed her sisters on pretext of exiting the shop, but to her astonishment found her sisters forcing her with them towards his table.
"What are you both upto, let go off me! What are you doing... please lets just leave... look this is not right, we are intruding in his personal space... wait... wait..." she hissed, but soon found herself standing infront of him mute, while he stood up greeting her sister, Mihika whom he already recognized.
"This is my cousin, my elder sister Vandu Akka and you must be knowing Ishu Akka... She is working in your office as well." Mihika introduced.
Raman smiled at Vandu, politely, and then turned all his attention towards Ishita, who was fumbling with her Dupatta, standing quite nervous, eyes fixed on the table cloth. He smiled at her nervous form, shaking his head he said, "Of-course" and then turned towards Mihika and Vandu and asked them to join politely, which they immediately did, while Ishita was lost in her own world and stood there still looking down, with her fingers now fumbling with the table cloth.
He looked at her standing figure questionably, while she was now looking at her hands, and then said, "Ishita, you can sit down too, this is not my office that you can't until I having to say so..." quite amused.
She gingerly sat down, and looking in the direction of her sisters and him, undeniably embarrassed.
"This is my daughter, Ruhi." Raman introduced the little angel to them.
"Ruhi, say hello..." he asked Ruhi politely.
"Hello..." Ruhi said, while looking up from her ice-cream, shyly.
"Hello Ruhi!!", both Vandita and Mihika greeted her sweetly, while Ishita looked at her, quietly. She was quite enchanted by the little angel, her soft features, her sweet angelic smile and her eyes; everything attracted her and inspired in her a feeling of love deep in her heart for her. But what surprised her most was the intensity of this feeling; she felt a genuine rush of feelings and wanted to envelop her in a motherly hug.
She just smiled softly at her, when Ruhi turned towards her with a greeting smile.
While they were into all the greetings and meetings, his phone rang, that he picked up.
"Hello? Good evening Mr. Mehra... okay, um... hey... please wait a minute." With that he looked at Ruhi and then at others and requested, "Hey, can you do me a little favor? Actually this call is really important, and I have to take it, can you look after her for few moments please."
Vandita and Mihika looked at him, and then at each other and said, "But We have to go, its really late, and actually My fianc is also waiting for me, I have to go", Vandu said and stood up and then Mihika too backed her, "Yeah, me too, I also have my last semester you know, So have to study, I was also leaving..." and then they both looked at helpless man, expectant daughter and baffled Ishita and said together, "But Ishu can look after her, I mean... if you promise to drop her home..." and with that they rushed, without waiting for the response from the surprised man, and equally astonished woman, their sister.
Raman turned towards her and said, "I with definitely drop you home, don't worry about that, just look after her okay." And rushed out without sparring a moment on anything she had to say.
Ishita sat down, and looked at her side, where the little girl was sitting and watching her, she looked little disoriented, "Hey" Ishita said softly, "Be comfortable, I am Ishita, I work for your papa, in his office, I am his secretary."
"But I never have seen you in papa's office, before?" Ruhi said, shifting her chair.
"I am new, I have been appointed yesterday, and I have joined today so..." Ishita said and then continued, "You visit him in office?"
"Sometimes, I have to blackmail Romi chachu and Mihir chachu to bring me there, But papa always gets angry and then I have to kiss him and calm him down." She completed. While Ishita looked at her in awe, she was such a sweet girl, who would not fall in love with her?
"And your mumma?" she asked, and almost immediately smacked herself mentally, as she saw a sullen look cross her angelic face.
Ruhi looked down, her sad look made her feeling of guilt more deep.
"I am sorry, I didn't mean to sadden you... Please forgive me." Ishita looked at her pleading.
"It's okay..." with that she looked down and continued, "She died when I was little child." She mumbled.
Ishita's eyes widened at this new information. How can God be so cruel, how can he snatch away motherly affection from such a loving child. This was such a catastrophe.
Ishita on an impulse hugged the sad child, angels face buried deep in her chest while she stroke her hair lovingly and kissed her forehead and hugged her again, This was the scene when he re-entered the ice-cream parlor.
He always wanted someone to take care of his angel, he wanted his little girl to have all the happiness of the world, but what he could not afford was a motherly affection, and now seeing that scene, how could he deny of not seeing that motherly affection in her eyes.
How could he have denied the feeling of comfort upon seeing Ruhi, his little angel getting that she never got, a motherly hug and care the genuinity of which he could feel plastered on her face.
He cleared his throat to make his presence known that brought both the girls out of emotional encounter and out of hug, while Ruhi gave Ishita a big smile, she felt drawn to her and felt her genuine and not fake like other girls at her father's office felt, while Ishita returned her smile and then looked at Raman, who was standing, his brows quirked up as if asking, What happened?' and instead of saying anything, she smiled in his direction.
Raman felt confused, but never-the-less he didn't probed into the topic, rather he asked Ruhi, "Do you want something else?" to which she nodded a NO'.
Raman smiled at her lovingly and turned towards Ishita, "Chalein?"
She nodded too, affirmative.
He smiled, picking up Ruhi in his arms, and after clearing the bill, they exited the parlor.
He opened the back door and bent to put Ruhi in the seat, but she denied and instead requested, "I want to sit infront, with Ishita aunty."
While Raman looked at her and whispered, "but, she would have problem na? you can come infront after we'll drop her to her house okay?"
"But..." Ruhi said, but Raman nodded for a strict NO.
However, Ishita saw them talking hush-hush and asked, "Ruhi, will you sit with me infront?" she really liked her and wanted to spend the last few moments of her day with her, being close.
Ruhi's face broke into a broad grin and she excitedly nodded, while looking at her father, while he smiled and shook his head and gave Ruhi, in her arms. Whom she gladly accepted, and sat infront beside Raman.
They sat and zoomed off, as she was sitting, she rolled down her window pane and looked out as her soft tendrils swayed by wind, teasing her long neck and smooth glowing cheek, but she did nothing to push them away, rather her both arms enveloped Ruhi in a cocoon like hug, with a gentle smile plastered upon her lips and her eyes filled with warmth of love.
Raman looked at her, and a smile spread on his lips, had it been six years ago, everyone would have laughed to even imagine this scenario, but this was truth! She was here, beside him, his angel in her arms, and it gave him a feeling of content.
After a few moments, he stopped the car bringing her out of trance she was in, she looked at him and smiled softly and then, he came out of the car and walked around towards her, to help her, as Ruhi had already fallen asleep. He took her gently from her embrace and gave her space to come out of the car, and placed Ruhi gently back, where she cuddled into the seat, and closed the door of the car. And turned towards Ishita with a smile and said, "Thanks... Thanks a lot! Really..."
"That's okay... but trust me, I really enjoyed her company very much." Ishita replied gently.
Raman smiled and said teasingly, "Only company of Ruhi?"
To which she looked down nervously with a small smile and nodded a NO, and said dropping the topic, "It's so late, you should go home, she must be uncomfortable in car seat." She said pointed towards sleeping Ruhi with her eyes.
"Yeah, and you should go inside." He said with a smile and turned and walked off towards his driver's seat but just before getting inside he, while standing with his one forearm on the ceiling of the car said with a secretive smile, "You know Ishita, your being nervous is so not you... you were never like this, be your self, this nervousness doesn't suit you, it never did..." and with that after giving her last of his charming smiles settled inside and zoomed off, leaving the confusion with the fumes behind.
While Ishita walked inside her house, quite baffled at his weird claims, shaking her head and thinking, Would she ever understand this mystery, who was her boss?'
***
Okay that's it.
I know I am late, but see I have updated a long update this time.
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Will update next soonish...
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