Part 8A
Ashok & Shagun
"Ashok, baby, dance with me" Shagun put her arms out to Ashok. There was soft music playing in the background.
Ashok threw back his glass of champagne into his mouth, desperately gulping the golden liquid. He did not know why he had this sudden aversion to Shagun- after all, they had lived together for 6 years and her attraction for him had always been physical. 'No, scrap that' he thought. 'I do know why I have this aversion to her, why she now disgusts me. It's because I now know just how unscrupulous she is. To think that all these years, she had been collecting this evidence against me, to make sure I didn't escape her. Well, I couldn't escape her. I'm stuck for the time being dammit.'
He took Shagun's hand and pulled her into his arms.
"Ashok baby" Shagun crooned, flinging her arms around his neck. "Abhi bhi naraaz ho?"
Shagun's outward smile hid the seething anger that bubbled inside her. 'Six years you bas***d' she thought to herself. 'I left my husband, my daughter for you, was scorned by my brother, ridiculed by society, I gave you the best years of my youth, and you think you can just throw me over like that? And when I make you do the right thing, you show me this attitude, scorn me?'
"No darling, naraaz nahi hoon. Let's forget all that" Ashok smiled at her. 'You bitch' his inner voice seethed.
"Oh baby" Shagun smiled at him. 'You lying bas***d' she thought to herself.
The music played on.
Yeh hai gumrahon ka raasta
Muskaan jhooti hai
Pehchaan jhooti hai
Rangeeni hai chaayi
Phir bhi hai tanhayi
Kal inhi galiyon mein
In masli kaliyon mein
Toh yeh dhoom thi
Joh rooh pyasi hai
Jis mein udaasi hai
Woh hai ghoomti
Sabko Talaash wohi
Samjhe woh Kaash koi
Muskaan jhooti hai
Raman & Ishita
Raman watched in amusement as Ishita crinkled her pretty nose at the taste of the Champagne.
"Aisi face kyun bana rahi ho? That's Dom Perignon, the best champagne you can find Madam" he mock scolded her.
"Raman, chee, kaise pite ho aap yeh? Orange juice nahi pee sakti kya mein?"
Raman grinned at his wife, then taking pity on her, motioned for the waiter to come over.
"Bhai, zara madam ki champagne mein OJ mix kar " he told the waiter. As the waiter moved away to comply, Raman felt a tap on his shoulder. It was one of his investors, Mr Malhotra.
"Mrs Bhalla, I am so sorry to disturb your evening, but I saw Raman and had to come over. Kya ten minutes ke liye hum Raman ko aap se le jaa sakte hai? I am having dinner with the Directors of the Takashi Group, Raman. I know you are meeting them on Monday, but this is a great opportunity for you to meet them in an informal setting." Mr Malhotra was polite but insistent.
Raman looked regretfully at Ishita, but she smiled her consent. "Of course Mr Malhotra" she answered.
"I'll be back soon" Raman gave a reassuring squeeze to Ishita's hand before getting up and accompanying Mr Malhotra to his table.
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It was closer to twenty minutes than ten before Raman was able to make his apologies to the Japanese guests of Mr Malhotra. He rushed back to his table, hoping that Ishita had not been too bored in his absence.
She was sitting back in her chair, the Champagne flute, it's contents diluted with orange juice, still in her hand.
Raman felt a pang of guilt at his actions in making his wife drink champagne when she obviously did not like the taste, orange juice or no orange juice.
"Ishita" he started as he sat down. "You don't have to drink that. I'll order a mocktail for you."
Ishita let out a peal of laughter. "Mocktail Raman? Ab woh kya hota hai? Aur mujhe nahi chahiye, I am enjoying this."
"Haan, lekin I've been away for twenty minutes aur tumne abhi bhi ek drink finish nahi kiya. It's ok yaar, you don't have to drink it. I'm sorry mein tumhe zabardasti kar raha tha."
The waiter had arrived with their dinner and started to put the plates before them as Ishita answered.
"No no Raman. Ek glass kahan. Ye toh refill kar rahe theh na. And it's mostly Orange juice na, so I've been drinking it. Aap theh nahi, toh aur kya karti? And Raman, it's reaaally delicious. Kitni acchi drink hai yeh. Sooo sweet of you."
Raman looked with suspicion at his wife. "Just how much has this Jhansi Ki Rani had to drink" he thought with dawning horror as he made out his wife's goofy smile and glassy eyes.
"Abey" he caught the waiter by his sleeve as he was about to depart. "Madam ki drink kitni refill kiya?"
The waiter picked up the Champagne bottle from the ice bucket on the table and showed it to Raman. It was half empty. "Aap ki glass refill kar doon Sir?" He asked politely.
Raman hit his forehead with his palm. "Nahi " he said, sitting back resignedly. "Mere liye toh ab pani le kar aa"
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The houseband had been strumming guitars and tuning instruments, and now struck up a tune.
"Oh Raman" Ishita stretched out a hand to her bemused husband. "Kitni achi music hai, chalo na dance karte hai"
"Baad me Ishita, pehle khana kha lo. Dekho tum kuch kha hi nahi rahi ho" Raman desperately tried to distract his wife by spooning some pea and pumpkin risotto from her plate into her mouth.
Ishita chewed thoughtfully on her food for a few seconds. "Okay" she smiled. "Ab kha liya, ab chalo na Raaaman."
"Lekin Ishita, abhi toh dinner shuru kiya na. Bas thoda aur kha lo, please"
"Nooo Raman, mujhe dance karna hai. Aap ke saath." Ishita pouted at her husband, tears filling into her big brown eyes.
"Oh God, accha don't cry, please sweetheart. Chalo, come here" Raman pushed back up his half eaten plate of pasta and stood up. He pulled back Ishita's chair and took her hand, pulling her to her feet.
Ishita beamed up at her husband and dropped a quick kiss on his surprised mouth. "Thank you Raman" she trilled happily, pulling him on to the dance floor.
Raman bemusedly followed his wife, grinning and muttering to himself. 'You asked for it beta' he told himself. 'Ab dekh kya naach nachaati hai tumhari Jhansi ki Rani'
"Kya keh rahe ho Raman" Ishita asked him as they reached the dance floor.
"Yehi ki, you are beautiful" he told her.' I am the luckiest man in the world' he thought to himself.
"Thank you Raman. And you are sooo handsome" she told him. 'Kitni lucky hoon mein' she told herself. 'Im the luckiest luckiest luckiest woman in the world.'
And the music played on.
Muskurane ki wajaa tum ho
Gungunaane ki waja tum ho...
Jiya jaye na jaye na jaye na
O re piya re...
Part 8B -page 53
Edited by Veeann - 10 years ago
Kumkum Bhagya
12