the storm that came... - Page 2

Before a storm hits any place it gets quiet, eerily so...Then it unleashes havoc, does it job and moves on, what it does is its job it has no worries of the consequences it leaves in its wake - it doesn't care if you end up bawling your heart out or do you find the rainbow that shines bright. What you get or find is all up to you and no one else.

There are those who fear the storm in this world and run away at the slightest turbulence, then there are those stubborn enough to stay put and brave it. However, there is also a third kind that deals with storms - the kind that chases it, studies it and finds it fascinating.

Depending on your position, the effect this storm can have on you - you take your stand and frankly neither of the above three kinds is wrong, everyone has their own set of beliefs and they are free to choose and follow it.

In this instance IshRa are about to hit the eye of the storm and I find myself in the third category - I am fascinated, enchanted and cannot wait to study this more, learn more. while a storm is scary is hell, it teaches you survival, it teaches you how to fight...it tests you and if you are brave enough to take it on either brave it, to not let it take you down it leaves you stronger, tougher and also it teaches you a thing or two.

This couple is about to face its toughest storm to date - one which will finally bring them together, one after which they will finally find that elusive rainbow that they had always been chasing.

The winds of this storm started blowing the day he learned her best friend is a man, a man she cannot stop praising. He gets mildly agitated, hassled at the point. He sees his wife get dressed to meet her friend for a dinner date and is peeved.

Silently he follows her, sees a decoy, and is relieved, he thinks he was panicking for no reason. He gets calm. He thinks I have no reason to fret after all.

He met another similar looking man, a man who was an uncanny mirror image of his past and ridiculed him too. He knew that guy always loses, that guy doesn't have it in him to win, to hold, to snatch away, to fight.

Then he came face to face with the real thing and the storm started brewing once again. This time it was stronger, harder and harsher.

However, he fought it, this turbulence - it affected him but would not let make him budge.

Things finally got to a point that he got defensive and as they often say, the best form of defense is offence.

He lashed out - at her when she got him a gift - a token of her love, her affection for him. he has assumed she would get him something that he might use occasionally like cufflinks, she wanted something more permanent

He realized his error soon but to rectify that he made an even bigger mistake and she accused him of being an insensitive man, someone who DOES NOT CARE FOR HER.

He remained silent, he remained in shock and failed to respond to that and she walked away thinking she hit the nail on the head and her heart broke.

Silence found its way again between them and it seemed it would last but of course in the face of bigger things they kept aside their issues - unresolved, unattended again.

Finally, amidst the tension came a day when they could celebrate - things that mattered, that were cherished and more important.

He finally showed he cared when he stopped her from fasting for him - his words rude and harsh - his intent anything but that. However knowing her as he did he spoke of Ruhi - to remind her lest she go against his wishes and remain stubborn she may hurt their little girl who was already so scared when she saw her Ishimaa once in a hospital bed.

Even as he looked out for her, he once again reminded her of Ruhi - he veiled his concern for her. He did not mention that if something happens to her he would not be able to take it as it is, so if she means him well all she has to do is take care of herself, so long as she is fine, he would be too.

She begrudgingly gave in.

Then came the day of love itself and he caught a glimpse of her in red - the color of love, of passion but mostly he caught a glimpse of her in the avatar he always desired to see her in - that of a Punjabi Bahu, that of Ishita Bhalla.

His ex had once dressed in a similar outfit in black when they were in cahoots on that day he gave her a onceover but his face was of incredulity, of repulsion.

On this day, it was of awe, wonder and so much love and passion for his wife - all of which she remained blissfully unaware off since she never caught him in the act.

He adored her reflection, his dream but the moment she turned around and faced him - he once again schooled his features and reigned himself in.

However, he spoke of her watching out, he said do not step out you may be attacked by a bull. But does a bull merely attack on seeing red, no it doesn't - it does only when its provoked again and again - to him she was provocative, tempting and he didn't want that the object of his desire should be admired by anyone else, but more than that he spoke of his tightly coiled passion, spoke how he is being provoked and has so far kept himself in check.

However he does something next that she didn't expect - he surprises her with a compliment, a genuine one with a wink and her heart skips a beat, she blushes...but her mind that has now assumed that he would backtrack even on this one makes her wonder would he follow this up with something mean/rude/harsh but he only smiles and she finally leaves happy in the moment of love and adoration that she shared with her husband.

Later among a circle of women, she lovingly gazes at their initials on her hand written in a heart. She wonders could this be happening for real was love really in her destiny? Was she lucky enough to find it again and with him? Was a pattern drawn on her hand with a temporary ink an indication of her destiny? Was this how it was always meant to be - their names together, two halves of a whole?

She wanted to believe that - she wanted it more than anything in this world at the moment.

He returned home, to her but still he knew they were apart but he could not help himself. Therefore, he did things as per his priority list - he ensured her well-being and asked his daughter about her. Next, he went up to her and held her hand even as he talked to his mother and finally fed her.

For those brief moments on this day he held her hand, almost embraced her and caressed her - as much as he could do and while it showed such progress from the last time that he fed her, it also showed another thing...the fact that they could only come close enough when they had covers to hide behind...in privacy there was still so much keeping them apart.

However, as is said love and cough cannot be hidden for long.

His love revealed itself too, when he was teased and as he blushed upon that in front of his comrades and in front of her as she learned his secret.

She got the answer to the question she had been looking for in that moment. She knew she hadn't misinterpreted the designs on her hands, she knew he loved her.

And with that revelation done they came face to face - their eyes spoke volumes but in essence they stayed silent...he didn't let her finish but understood she knew.

All was well, beautiful in fact perfect finally only storms come without warnings and this one finally did.

He overhead half a conversation barely and was pulled back into the same place he found himself years ago, with another woman.

All his happiness, his excitement vanished. She remained in the dark.

They came together once again and she saw him through a sieve and broke his fast but the festivities had already ended for them, only she was blissfully unaware. She thought this was another one of those moves her unpredictable husband pulled as always.

She promised to herself she wont let any harm befall him ever and he avoided her.

She thanked him, spoke how he once again touched her heart and that finally was the last straw - he raged and thundered, he spoke mean words. He uttered we are not real, do not be deluded. Said all things are a sham - those were the words he used; said to her, meant for him, his mind that refused to be calm after he found his wife hiding things from him.

He wanted her for himself and in saying Ruhi' name he brought up why it hurt him so much - why they still are separate.

A man hurt lashed out, a woman who had barely peeked out of her shell got hurt once again but decided she won't let his anger or temper change her feelings - she is too far in for that now.

On the day of VarahLakshmi - the priest spoke - the relationship, the marriage between Shiva and Shakti is that of Tyag (sacrifice) and Samarpan (Surrender/Devotion).

When he gave up his post for her that day - he sacrificed but in return won her devotion unerringly. That day she surrendered her heart to him so completely - something she admitted when she was asked for her KKHH moment - until then that had been the most thoughtful, sweetest thing he had done for her.

He had protected her and had done so silently.

They would find themselves back to a similar place when this time around she risks her image, her honor much as he did to save his...this time she would sacrifice for him.

In the end, it would result in him having to do what he had been so far unable to do completely - he would surrender. He would devote himself OPENLY. The Samarpan which would be done with Raavan Dehan post which the Silence (Maun( would be no longer in practice.

However, before that surrender - that Samarpan which would at last unite them - that would happen they would have to face this storm together.