#1| IshRa : Meherbaan FF | Thread One - Complete. Moved to Thread Two. - Page 12

C H A P T E R 7 K H A B A R N A H I

Chapter Edited by Dhara (@dsgirl)

Kuchh khwaab dekhe hain

[I've seen some dreams]

Kuchh rang soche hain

[I've thought of some colors]

Ab maine kal apne tere sang soche hain

[Now, I've thought of my future alongside You]

Iss raah mein jab bhi tu saath hoti hai

[In these roads whenever You are with me]

Kisson ke pannon si har baat hoti hai

[Everything that happens is just like the story from a book (love story)]

Ishita's hands were placed on Raman's shoulders, as Raman held her waist. Ishita looked away and smiled.

"Yaha kyun aaye ho?"

"Because I missed you. Zindagi mein se shanti ki aadat jo choot gayi hai."

"Kyun, taane marne ke liye koi nahi mila kya?"

"Mile na, par un mein meri biwi nahi thi."

Ishita blushed.

"Waise, aaj Madrasan bilkul Madrasi nahi lag rahi, kya jadoo kiya hai?" Raman said as he pulled Ishita closer to him.

Rooh jo huyi meri fida toh pal mein uthi koyi sada

[This soul when it got sacrificed, in the next moment a sound arose]

Ke dil se hua judaa judaa toota main iss tara

[I was seperated from my heart and broken in this way]

"Raavan Kumar bilkul Ram Kumar kaise ban gaya?"

"Apni Sita ko jo paana tha."

"Kuch Bhi."

Sadka kiya yun ishq ka ke sar jhuka jahaan deedar hua (x2)

[I prayed to love in such a way, that wherever I bowed down, I saw her (my beloved)]

Tere mudne se suraj udh gaya

[On Your looking away, the sun turned off]

Teri roshni ke saaye mein main dhoop si khili

[In the shadow of Your light, I am blossoming like I do under the sunlight]

Mera aasman bhi chhota padh gaya

[My sky also felt smaller]

Mujhe jab se hai baahon mein teri panah mili

[Since I've gotten refuge (residence) in Your arms]

Ishita enjoyed these rare moments when they were lost in themselves. No audience to please or people to watch. Just them as they did what they pleased. It was moments like these that Ishita allowed herself to be lost in the moment. She allowed herself to fantasize this as her wildest dreams come true. They had come a long way, from absolutely loathing each other to being mere companions. They openly spoke about their wishes and desires with each other and to each other - all but one, to have a future with each other, a blissful future of their own.

Woh thehri teri adaa adaa

[The slow moving style of Yours]

Ke ruk bhi gaya mera khuda

[That even my God stopped]

Toh mujhpe yeh asar hua

[Then there was such an effect on me]

Toota main iss tarah

[And I broke in this way]

Ke sar jhuka jahaan deedar hua

[That wherever I bowed down, I saw her]

Sadka kiya yun ishq ka ke sar jhuka jahaan deedar hua

[I prayed to love in such a way, that wherever I bowed down, I saw her]

Ishita placed her head on Raman's chest as he swayed to the music, leaning his head on hers. Ishita could almost hear Raman's beating heart.

Kuchh khwaab dekhe hain

[I've seen some dreams]

Kuchh rang soche hain

[I've thought of some colors]

Ab maine kal apne tere sang soche hain

[Now, I've thought of my future alongside You]

Teri khushbu mein bheege khat mile

[I found some letters drenched in Your fragrance]

Tere rang ki siaahi se likhe padhe sune

[Written with the ink of Your color, I read those writings]

Teri baaton ke woh saare silsile

[All those chain of talks of Yours]

Meri dil ki kahani si suni kahin bune

[Weave the lonely story of my heart]

Raman wanted Ishita. He needed her in his life. If Raman wanted a dance, he turned up to Ishita. If he needed a companion it was Ishita. If he needed someone to hear him rant, it was Ishita. If ishita had to weep at his misery, it was Ishita. If Raman had complains, it was Ishita. It was always Ishita, the woman who had come into his life as Ruhi's mother and ended up being so much more. Raman hadn't even realised when Ishita had made her place in his life or when he felt that he needed more than companionship from her. Deep in heart he knew that he was expecting too much from her. His life was a god damn mess, Ruhi and Ishita being his only ray of hope. He couldn't return Ishita the romantic love and security he had started yearning for. Even now, all he gave her was hurt in return. Ishita was patient with him, she took all his outbursts without a word. But till when? Till when will she keep up with the charade? She would walk away, just like Shagun did. And this time unlike Shagun he would be the one giving her a reason to, a voice at the back of his head warned him.

Main kar na sakun bayaan bayaan

[I can't express]

Ke chup si huyi meri zubaan

[My tongue has became silent]

Yeh dil mehmaan hua hua

[This heart became a guest]

Toota main iss tarah

[And I broke in this way]

Ishita moved away, uncomfortable at such closeness. Such closeness that would cause more than a rapidly beating heart and blush. She had looked up to see a grinning Raman who took the moment to move to the beat. He had lead her into a back dip. Ishita closed her eyes in fear, but Raman had held her tight. He didn't let her fall. As he pulled her back on her feet, she had giggled like a schoolgirl who had danced with her crush for the first time. That step had been enthralling, just like life with Raman. Unknown, heart gripping and exciting. Raman had joined her in her laugh. And together they had giggled on the dance floor.

Sadka kiya yun ishq ka ke sar jhuka jahaan deedar hua (x2)

[I prayed to love in such a way, that wherever I bowed down, I saw her]

Kuchh khwaab dekhe hain

[I've seen some dreams]

Kuchh rang soche hain

[I've thought of some colors]

Ab maine kal apne tere sang soche hain

[Now, I've thought of my future alongside You]

Raman wouldn't let Ishita get away, he vowed. He would keep her besides him. He would learn to love all over. If it was that would keep her with him. He would learn to love. He would learn to care. He would try his best to break down the barriers to his heart so that Ishita would find her way there. He would make Ishita his, in every sense. If she wanted him to be her companion, he would be that. If she wanted a lover, he would be that. He would be hers just like Ruhi was theirs.

Iss raah mein jab bhi tu saath hoti hai

[In these roads whenever You are with me]

Kisson ke pannon si har baat hoti hai

[Everything that happens is just like the story from a book]

Rooh jo huyi meri fida toh pal mein uthi koyi sada

[This soul when it got sacrificed, in the next moment a sound arose]

Ke dil se hua judaa judaa toota main iss tara

[I was seperated from my heart and broken in this way]

Ishita vowed to put an end to these growing emotions. She had a painful reminder to remind her of the fact that he would never accept her in the true sense. You are a 28 year old, you have seen the worst in life now when you've gotten the happiness why are you so keen on destroying it. You love once, he had loved Shagun. You haven't. You grew up with Subbu, he grew onto you and then he left you dry. Love was unconditional, just like Raman was with Shagun despite all she had done to him. Love doesn't make you cry - he took care of Shagun's tears making Ishita cry in the process. You can't envy her, Ishita, Shagun was here for the past 12 years. You are the new one. Don't expect anything from him. He's your friend. Your best friend and this is what friends do.

Sadka kiya yun ishq ka ke sar jhuka jahaan deedar hua (x2)

[I prayed to love in such a way, that wherever I bowed down, I saw her]

He twirled her around. She laughed. He laughed along with her. Two people. Two lives entwined by fate. Two people who lived for one reason - their daughter and unknown to them, each other.

They laughed as they got off the dance floor. Raman had his arm around Ishita's shoulder.

"Itne jaldi niche utar gayi Madrasan? The night is young aur jawaani toh abhi chali hai. Chalo phir upar chalte hai." said Raman as he grinned at his wife.

"Chaalo."

"Kaha, upar?"

"Nahi, niche. Besharam."

"Mein toh dance floor pe jaane ki bath kar raha tha Mrs. Bhalla. Aap toh bade wild thoughts ki nikhili." He winked at her which gained him nothing but a playful pat on his abdomen.

A grinning Raman was lead by Ishita towards her friends.

"Yeh hai Raman. My husband."

"Ishita tumhari wife hai?" exclaimed a shocked friend.

Raman turned to Ishita with a I-told-you-so look, "Dekha na Madrasan, kaha tha maine that no one will believe ki main tumhara husband hoon. Itna hot punjabi Munda jo hoon."

Ishita pinched Raman.

"Ouch. Ishita yaar. Mazak ki aadat dal bhi lo. Kya Madrasi se pala pada hai."

"Ishita. Ab pata chala ki why you disappeared for such a long time. Pati ko jo chupa rahi thi." another exclaimed while every burst laughing.

"Saath baal aayi ho. Story toh batao. I mean, no offense Raman sir but you are a lucky man to marry Ishita. Puri.."

"Jhansi ki Rani hai, I know."

"Tumhe yaha aana hi nahi chahiye tha. Kyun meri beizzati kar rahe ho. This is bad, Raman."

"Mein tumhari beizzati kaha kar raha hoon yaar."

It was a while later, during dinner when someone brought up the topic of their marriage.

They wanted to know how Ishita who had gone through such drastic breakup had managed to snag Raman Kumar Bhalla out of all people. Raman claimed that he was the lucky one who this Madrasan had finally agreed to marry. Omitting the harsh details, he narrated their story.

"We met, we clashed, kuch kuch hone laga. Our parents noticed it aur phir poore boring traditional wedding plans mein phasa diya, yaar."

"Boring, tum logo ne apne kar name suru kiye the."

"Subah ki char bhaje ki puja hoi rakhta hai kya?"

"Puja mein toh bada aya the,"

"Jaha par Amma, Appa aur tumhare behno ne pura atyachar kiya tha lungi pehla kar. Accha bhale punjabi munde ke izzat milti mein mila di thi."

"Shadi karne ki kisko jaldi thi?"

"Full fledged shaadi ka shauk kisko tha, Madrasan? Maine toh pehle kaha tha ki court marriage kar lete hai, aur vaha par toh elopement ka tag laga diya."

"Court ke two months ka condition kisko pata nahi tha?"

"Kyun, main roz shadi karta hoon na?" turning to Ishita's friends he continued, "Waise phir jo normal shaadi Tamil mein hota hai along with their atrocious timings."

"And not to forget tum logo ke Punjabi tadke."

"And then Ruhi aa gayi. Aur tabse sab set hai."

"Toh, Ishita cool wife lagti hai, taane maarti hai?"

"Nahi, bali. Usne toh kabka level up kia hai, seedhe bhali ka bakra banakar lecture pe tum jaati hai. Taane toh accha hote, itne horrible script writer ke likhe hue lectures." Raman smirked at his wife.

"Raavan Kumar. Mere classmates ke saamne toh meri buraai mat karo baba."

Raman had received a call and excused himself to receive while the server asked them for their orders. Ishita placed The orders for both of them - veg for her and non neg for him.

"He's such a great guy. You're lucky, Ishita. Kash mujhe aise pati milta."

"Don't give me hopes yaar, Madhavi. Aur itne me accha nahi ki fida ho jao."

"Kisiko jalan ho rahi hai. Dekh Bhai Dekh. Someone resembles the green monster."

Veer's wife moved away to receive a call. It was Subbu on the line. Subbu surrounded by a frantic family had called up to check on Ishita who was meeting up with her after so long. Veer's wife picked up the call, as she passed a cordial smile to Raman who had walked past her.

"Yeah, Subbu. Oh. Ishita, she's doing amazing. No, I don't think you'll need to do that. Her husband is here. He's so hot. And he's so so romantic. A pretty successful guy too from the looks of all our classmates. They are gushing over him. Totally jealous, I tell you. They are so adorable together. I think they had a love marriage. A Tamil marriage, he said he didn't appreciate the ceremonies and she was like, his family had their own programme at the wedding... And they spent the next five minutes cutely arguing over how they got married. He's Punjabi. And she's a Tamil. And his family doesn't even allow her to eat non-veg, other families would have asked her to convert for ghair convenience. And Ishita ordered his food for him when he was on call, and trust me I can't do so many years into my marriage with Veer. God. Ruhi has such amazing parents. They are so adorable. And I'm totally fangurling over them. I'm happy for Ishita. No offense, but he's so much better than you." Veer's wife rambled.

The last line was an arrow into Subbu's heart. "No offence, but he's so much better than you."

Patti and Nitya has grinned. The chat was fuel to the overactive aunties minds as they came up with various theories on Ishita and her life that they had missed.

Ruhi smiled. Her plan was into action. After all she was the one who called Mihir Chachu up and informed him that Ishima had a meet up in a few hours knowing Raman had landed there a few hours ago, after all Mihir Chachu had paid her a visit which her Papa didn't extend the courtesy to. Mihir had followed his Ruhi's advice and arranged a casual meeting for Raman. You'll pass time and get work done, Mihir had explained to Raman. Raman had innocently fallen into their trap. After all, nothing in this world was a coincidence. Ruhi had winked at her newly discovered mamu to get her next plan into action. Not plan, Ruhi played the role of a messenger in the next, the rest lay on Ishima and Papa. Ruhi had to show these bad aunties who annoyed her and her mom that her parents were amazing. Ruhi yawned. It was time to go to bed, she was sure mama would come home later tonight as Mama and Papa did their parent/adult things'.

That night after Raman and Ishita had grabbed themselves drinks - Raman, a beer and Ishita, her usual coffee - they had chosen a quiet place brightened by city lights to park their car at. Raman and Ishita had spent half the night leaning on the car as they chatted and flirted along. While Ishita had animately narrated the incidents at the wedding house till Raman had listened to her chatter away with a smile away. If Raman was to be asked about what possessed him to lean towards Ishita for a kiss. He didn't know if it were the bright street lights or the excitement in her voice as she spoke about their daughter or her luscious lips. He had leaned in for a kiss and knead of aiming for her lips he had aimed for the corner of her lips as he kissed away the drop of coffee that had stayed back on her lips.

And a second later the moment was destroyed. All magic lost.

"Haan, Shagun. Mein abhi nikalta hoon. Hotel Avenue. I will meet you there. In another three hours. Let me ask Mihir to book a flight."

Ishita looked away. She had done it all over again. Let herself be lead by this man. He had dumped her all over her, had requested her to take the car for her safety. Ishita had driven away with a smile on her face until she stopped halfway, and cried her heart out. Why did she do? Why did she have to fall for such a man? Why everytime she put an end to those growing feelings did her have to come along, sweep her off her feet and then leave her to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. Why did she have so many messes in life? Why was it just her? Why couldn't everyone leave her alone? Why couldn't she and Ruhi leave and walk away? Because Ruhi is Raman's daughter, an evil voice chanted at the back of her voice. Was asking for a little but of priority if not love too much? He had married her, did he even care? It wasn't that Ishita hadn't tried, she had tried her level to understand that Shagun was Aditya's mother and Ruhi's birth mother and that she was linked to Raman in more ways that Ishita would ever be. Raman had chosen to be with Ishita just for Ruhi, his heart lay with Shagun. Friends don't fall for each other, unrequited love burns both the parties involved you can't do that to him or yourself, you weren't meant to love, he doesn't even care "why do you? The evil whisper at the back of her mind continued. His family will always come first, you are just Ruhi's mother, the glorified nanny, Shagun's voice echoed, I've ruined him for anyone, he can't and he won't love ever again, don't dream Ishita, Shagun had continued.

"Hope. Tears. Frustration. How much more should I shed on this man?"

Ishita frantically wiped her eyes. She couldn't do this. She wouldn't do this. She was Ruhi's mother. She had all the loved she needed in the world, she chanted. She wouldn't ruin it all just for love. Heck, she wasn't even sure if she loved him. So she repeated the speech that seemed like a prayer to her, she didn't care, she was happy, she didn't need Raman, they were a happy family, nothing would change that equation, not all parents loved each other, families were bound together by faith, trust and love and theirs had all - in Ruhi. She didn't need any romantic love from Raman. She didn't need it even he handed it on a golden platter. She didn't need a life where she lived each moment insecure about the relationships in her life. Arranged marriages did not have love in their equation and certainly not hers. She looked in the rear view mirror and tried smiling. It took her several attempts to smile without her jaw hurting. She used the emergency makeup kit she always carried with her to remove all her makeup and drove home, to her daughter. That night Ishita hugged her daughter and slept a disturbed sleep.