FF Kaun Kiska? UPDATED 17/07/16 Part 9A Pg 63 - Page 2

She looked at him wide eyed, her heart in her mouth, a thousand questions on her face, a thousand dreams in her eyes.

Her hands flew to her face, covering her eyes, her mouth, trying to shut out what she thought she had heard. It had to be a dream. It had to be an illusion. How could it be true? How could it be?

"Raman" she whispered "Raman"

She looked at him with narrowed eyes, her heart in her mouth, a thousand questions on her face, shattered dreams in her eyes.

Her hands flew to her face, covering her eyes, her mouth, trying to shut out what she thought she had heard. It had to be a nightmare. It had to be an illusion. How could it be true? How could it be?

"Ashok" she whispered "Ashok"

He covered her hands with his, gently removing them from her face, bringing them to his lips, smothering them in kisses.

"I love you" he repeated. "Mohabbat ho gayi hai tumse Ishita. Zaroorat ban gayi ho tum meri. Tumhare bina ab jeena nahi mujhe. Jaan chikartha hoon tumpar. I love you Ishita. I love you, I want you, I need you."

She melted into his arms, tears flowing down her face, streaking her smile, as he enfolded her into himself, repeating endearments into her face and hair. "Tell me you love me too" he demanded, breaking the embrace to glance fiercely at her. " Tell me my love"

"Raman, I love you" she smiled through her tears, her voice breaking as the love reflected in his eyes sent waves of desire through her. " I love you"

He pulled her back in his arms, cradling her face tenderly in his hands as his lips settled on hers. Their first kiss - he started off gently, not wanting to frighten her, but the depth of his passion could not be hidden. His lips firmed on hers, pushing and sucking until her mouth opened beneath his. A moan escaped her as his tongue entered her mouth, his desire evident in the way in which he assaulted her senses, drinking from her without inhibition or restraint.

His hands moved from her face to her waist, pulling her yet closer, pulling her sari out from its underskirt as he caressed her bare skin. She tightened her arms around his neck, her hands pulling at his hair as she gave into the needs and demands of her body. Her mind had ceased to think, all that there was, was this need to be possessed by him, to surrender, to possess, to become his. His hands urgent on her bare waist, his relentless lips crushing hers - she was gripped by the desire that was running rampant in him. Her hands moved down to his shirt, fumbling with his buttons, wanting to feel him.

He pulled his lips away from hers, catching her errant hands with his. "Ishita" his voice was thick with desire, unrecognisable. "Baby, are you.."

She pulled his head down toward her again as with a groan, he gathered her up, lifting her into his arms and dropping her on the bed of their hotel room.

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They were in the Taj.

Raman had booked two rooms for Shagun's wedding function - for himself, Ishita, Simmi and Ruhi. They had arrived a couple of hours earlier and his trio of beauties had disappeared into the hotel's salon, leaving him to fend for himself.

After showering and getting changed into his Black tuxedo, he had sat with a drink in his room, not wanting to go to the bar, not really wanting to talk to anyone of his acquaintance, and particularly not Ashok or that brother of his.

He shook his head wryly. It wasn't every day that a man attended his ex wife's wedding! He no longer had any love in his heart for Shagun, all of that had died with her betrayal. He didn't even have any bitterness in his heart for her now. That had died when he fell in love with Ishita.

But even with the indifference he felt for her, he could not help himself from recalling his wedding day with Shagun. He had been so young then, so idealistic, so full of hopes and dreams for a lifetime together. He would never, in his wildest dreams, have imagined that Shagun would betray him as she did.

Still, what was done was done, and if he and Shagun had never married, then he would not have had his two angels, his Adi and Ruhi. And if Shagun had not betrayed him, then he would never have met Ishita, the love of his life.

At the thought of Ishita, his eyes and mouth softened, his lips curving into a smile. God, how he loved her. After the misunderstanding he had had regarding her friendship with Mani, after the way in which he had treated her that night... he shuddered as he recalled how close he had come to destroying everything that was good between them. They had never spoken of the demons that had engulfed him that night, never discussed the insecurity that raged through him that had caused him to doubt her., never discussed her actions which had caused his insecurity in the first place. Instead, he had let his deeds do his talking for him - holding her hand, touching her at every excuse, forcing her to say she forgave him. He had seen the emotions that coloured her face at his touch, heard the quick intake of her breath, felt the rise of her heartbeat- he knew that she loved him too, but he had not yet told her of his feelings, nor asked her about hers.

His musings had been interrupted by a knock on the door. He opened it to find his daughter and his sister at the threshold, both dressed in beautiful silks, Simmi in an elegant blue anarkali far removed from her daily attire and Ruhi in a gold and red ghagra choli, chosen to match Shagun's bridal wear. Ruhi launched herself at him and he bent to pick her up.

"Wow, papa, you look so handsome" she beamed at him, giving him a soft kiss on his cheek.

"Accha?" he smiled quizzically at his little girl, pressing loving kisses on both her cheeks. "Maska laga rahi ho? But nobody looks better than my Ruhi."

"Simmi bua bhi nahi" Ruhi giggled, as Simmi raised her eyebrows.

"Simmi bua bhi bahut achi lag rahi hai" he smiled at his sister. "But best toh meri Ruhi hai"

"Ishima se bhi best?" Ruhi persisted with a giggle.

"Tumhari Ishima hai kahan?" He asked, setting Ruhi down. "Kitni waqt lagta hai usko tayaar hone mein? Do ghante ho gaye!"

"Woh kya hai na Bhai, saloon mein bahut zyaada bookings theh, aaj Shaadi ke liye. Toh woh sab ki appointments late chal rahe theh. Aur sab ladies fuss kar rahe theh. Toh Ishita ne kaha ki woh wait karlegi. Bas kuch der mein aa jayegi." Simmi explained.

"That sounds right. Mahaanta ki Devi" he muttered under his breath.

"Bhai, Shaadi mein abhi one hour bacha hai, tusi fikr na karo, Ishita aa jayegi. Acha, Ruhi ko woh phool shool beegne hai na, us kamini ... meri matlab hain, dulhan ke upar, toh Ruhi aur mein jaa rahe hai, Mihika ke paas. Woh sab organise kar rahi hai. Aap log araam se aana, jab Ishita aa jayegi."

Simmi had gathered Ruhi up and with a wave and smile to Raman, they had left the room.

He did not have to wait long for Ishita. It was mere minutes after Ruhi and her bua had left that he had heard the click of the entry card as she swiped it against the door, and then saw the door opening.

He had stood at the sight of her, his eyes arrested by the vision before him. She had walked in shyly, the door closing firmly behind her, resplendent in a beautiful chiffon sari, pale pink in colour, glittering with sequins, a thin diamond strand at her neck. Her curled hair had been left down, falling past her shoulders and down her slim waist, diamond earrings glittering through the dense blackness.

He knew his mouth was agape, that he was staring at her like a lovesick schoolboy, but he could not help it, could not control himself. As she had stopped in front of him, a shy smile playing on her lips, he had reached out a hand, tracing the outline of her lips as her mouth widened in shock.

"Raman" she had whispered. "Kya..."

"I love you Ishita" he had told her then. God knows what he had been waiting for, what perfect moment he had been seeking to proclaim his feelings, why he had not told her before now. Tonight, at his ex wife's wedding was hardly a perfect time or place, but he could not wait any longer to let his wife, his love, know how he felt about her.

"I love you. I'm crazy about you. I know we married for Ruhi, I know how difficult things have been. But I've fallen in love with you. Hamaari baat Ruhi se shuru hui thi, lekin ab yeh rishta Ruhi ke liye nahi hai, Ishita. Tum meri jaan ban gayi ho. Tumse pyaar karta hoon. Aur zindagi bhar karta rahoonga. Pichle dinon jo sab hua, uske liye sharminda hoon Ishita. Tumhe kho doon, is daar ke kaaran mein paagal ho gaya tha. Tum mujhse dur chali jao, yeh mujhse bardasht nahi hoga ab. Nahi jee sakta tumhare bina mein, Ishita, I love you, my darling"

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She lay on the bed looking up at him as he pulled his clothes off.

Her face held a mixture of shyness and bold curiosity, her breath was ragged, her chest rising and falling rapidly beneath her thin sari and blouse. She closed her eyes as his hands went to the waistband of his trousers, shyness winning out over curiosity, desire now accompanied by a sweet delicious fear. She felt his weight as he settled on the bed, felt his hand softly fluttering over her eyes and face.

"Ankhen kholo, Jhaansi ki Rani. Ab kyon sharmana?" He teased her as he pulled her into a sitting position, his hands at the pin holding up her sari to her blouse, swiftly removing it, then pulling her sari away. She felt his swift intake of breath, and opened her eyes as his hands caressed her back and waist, stopping at the buttons to her choli. She looked straight into eyes darkened with desire, hooded with a raw passion that could no longer be hidden. He bent his head to hers again, his lips hard on hers as his fingers swiftly opened the buttons they had been toying with, pushing her choli and inner garment aside, revealing her softness to his touch.

She gasped with desire as his hands caressed her, as soft and gentle as his mouth was hard and demanding.

"Touch me" he demanded, finally tearing his mouth from hers, his hands swiftly divesting her of her remaining clothes, as he pushed her down on the bed, covering her bare body with his.

The urgency of his need could no longer be denied. The would be many more occasions of lovemaking to come, times when they would explore each other's bodies leisurely, when they would learn about each curve and contour, when he would delight her in ways that she had never imagined. Tonight, though, he needed only to possess, to finally make her his, to assuage the emptiness that had gnawed at him for so long, for his lifetime. Tonight, he needed just to be one with her.

Her shyness was forgotten under the onslaught of his ardour. She moved her hands over him, as he was doing to her. The feel of his bare skin beneath her fingers only heightened her desire, his kisses drove her even more desperate for him, to feel all of him. Their hands moved all over the other, alternately soft and demanding, feeling each other as their heartbeats rose in a deafening crescendo. He moved his lips away from her face, roaming all over her body, nibbling and sucking as she held on to his shoulders, sighing in pleasure, moaning his name over and over.

She was lost in him, and he in her ... Her eyes widened as he positioned himself above her, his lips capturing hers again. They called out each other's names as he finally claimed her, their passion exploding in a crescendo of delight, their bodies sated as he fell on her, her arms holding him tight as her tears of joy mingled with his.

Shagun was dressed in her wedding finery - a heavy gold and red ghagra and choli, covered with a shimmering matching dupatta. Her flawless beauty was enhanced by subtle make up, but her pouty red lips were trembling as she stared up at Ashok.

The mahurat for the wedding was now. The pandit had called them to the mandap. Mihika had already looked in on her but Ashok had entered the room before she could step out to take her place in the mandap.

"I need to talk Shagun" he had told her.

And talk he did. He didn't love her, he told her. She had been a challenge, something to take away from that idiot Raman. And yes, they had had some great times, had enjoyed each other's company, but she was getting old now, and he had his family to think of. How could he marry a mother of two? How could he tie himself down to her like this. She had to understand, they had had a wonderful time together, but it had to end now. And she wasn't to think that he would leave her destitute. He had deposited 20 lakh into a bank account for her, that should keep her going until she...he had leered at her then...until she found something else to do.

To say that Shagun was dumbfounded would be an understatement. She was horrified, astounded that the man who only six days ago had insisted on preponing their wedding, had insisted that she was his love, his life, would now reject her so callously, literally at the altar.

"But why Ashok, why" she screeched and screamed, pleaded and begged. "I left my husband, my daughter for you. I stayed with you for 6 years, gave you everything. You proposed to me, you set our wedding date, you preponed it, so why now? What will happen to my reputation?"

"Your reputation, Shagun?"Ashok sniggered. "You didn't think of your reputation when you left your husband and your baby, so why worry now? And as for why now... Well, I needed that contract with Abhimanyu, and he would not give it to me unless I agreed to marry you. But now it's signed, we signed this morning and my lawyer just called to let me know it's been stamped and registered, it's all legal, and Mr Abhimanyu Raghav can't back out of it. So you see Shagun, you've served your purpose. Now stop making a scene. Mein keh deta hoon sab se ki tumhari tabiyat kharaab ho gayi, yeh Shaadi nahi hogi. Tum yahin rooko"

And with that he walked out of the room, into the reception hall. Shagun stayed rooted to her seat for a moment, then she got up and walked to the door.

He held her in his arms, lovingly tracing the contours of her face with his fingers.

"Sorry, baby" he whispered.

"Kyun Raman?" She asked softly from the cocoon of his arms.

"For rushing this, I...I wanted everything to be perfect, our first time, but I just couldn't help..."

"Shhh, Raman" she turned around in his arms, raising her head up from his chest to gaze into his eyes, placing a finger against his lips.

"It was perfect Raman" she held his gaze, her eyes shining. "And I wanted this too. As much as you." With that she lowered her gaze, tucking her head onto his chest again, tightening her arms around his waist.

He smiled and dropped a kiss on her hair, inhaling her fragrance. He felt 10 feet tall today, a giant, a colossus, with his woman in his arms.

"Did you now" he chuckled. "Do you want to show me again just how much? Hmm?"

"Raman" she protested. "Ab utho bhi. Shaadi mein jaana hai na. It must be time already. Ruhi hume dhund rahi hogi"

"Tumhari make up toh mein ne kharaab kar di na?" He smirked at her as she sat up, clutching the bed sheet to her chest. He raised a hand and lazily traced her swollen lips, smoothing her smeared lipstick, his fingers running up to her kohl smudged eyes.

"Woh mein theek karloongi" she told him shyly. Her face suddenly turned serious as she caught his wandering hand in hers.

"Raman, aap theek toh hai na? About attending this wedding. I know, mein ne zid ki thi Ruhi ko bhejne ke liye, aur phir Mummyji ne humko bhi aane ke liye kaha. Lekin aap, aap ko kuch ajeeb lag raha hoga na?"

"No" he smiled at her. 'Kuch ajeeb nahi lagta. Yeh sab hota nahi zindagi mein, toh tum mujhe kaise milti? Mein yahan apni biwi ke kehne par aaya hoon, apni beti ke liye. Aur jab tak meri Ishita ke haath mere haath mein hai, mujhe kuch ajeeb nahi lagta. Bas tum kabhi mera saath mat choodna"

Her eyes filled with tears and he gave her a gentle push "Now go and get ready and stop looking at me like that, warna phir jaane nahi doonga."

It took Ishita some ten minutes to repair the damage his wandering hands and mouth had caused. She took a quick shower and then re draped her sari, wincing a little at the delicious ache in her limbs, the tenderness she felt as she reapplied her make up lighting her features into yet another smile. She noticed a glow on her face that had never been there before, and which no make up could disguise.

He had showered in the adjoining room and was ready in his tux when she stepped into the room from her shower.

"Sweetheart" he murmured. "Help me with this bow tie please" She walked up to him and looked quizzically at the perfectly tied bow at his neck.

"Kya" she asked and then gasped as he took advantage of her nearness to pull her into his arms.

"Raman, no" she chided him, even as her insides turned to mush. "We have to go, Shaadi shuru hone wala hai."

"Ok, but I want a rain check" he laughed as he clasped her hand firmly in his, and they walked towards the door.