Raman glared as Shagun showcased her dress in front of him "I told you. This dress is meant for me." Shagun said titling a bit to give him the backless view, Raman scowled at the sight "Your wife gave me your gift herself. Even she realised that she can't carry it off." Raman rubbed his temples as her irritating voice engulfed her.
"Are you done here?" Raman snapped loosing his cool
"Even I am not interested in wasting my day on you." She snapped back while Raman gestured her to leave by making a way for her.
Raman looked at his wife who was laughing at Mihir-Mihika's bickering, while he could just kill the lady in front had he not been madly in love with her.
Ishita caught his eyes and raised her eyebrow at him. He turned away, fuming at the audacity to even question him for his fowl mood
"What happened?" The next second he heard Ishita next to him.
"Nothing. Really nothing Ishita. " Raman turned to move towards the bar but was stop by her hand on his arm.
"Raman." She said softly and he looked at her. Damn she knows how to pull my strings "Shagun didn't have the dress for tonight and Mihika asked-"
"So you gave it. Do you realise that I got it for you personally?"
"I know Raman but-"
"But what Ishita ? That woman is taunting me on my face and I can't even blame her because my own wife don't care enough for my feelings." Raman said trying to control his decibels.
"Raman please atleast listen." The smile went away as guilt replaced it
"No Ishita." He removed his arm from her grasp "You gave me bracelet and because I broke it in fit of anger, you almost set a world war but what now ? Should I blame you ? Should I say that you don't have the heart to appreciate things given by your husband ? Should I?" Raman said with anger spitting with every word of his. Ishita's eyes welled up by his words - she didn't realise the repercussions of the act done in shear innocence.
Before Raman could say further, Ruhi encircled her Ishima's knees.
"Ruhi?" Ishita immediately turned around. She kneeled at her child's level "Kya hua Ru baccha?"
"Ishima mujhe nai rehna yahan." Ruhi said as her eyes filled with tears. Ishita worriedly looked at Raman but he angrily gazed back at her.
"kisine kuch kaha kya?" Ishita held Ruhi close "Adi bhaiya is bullying me Ishima. Shagun mamma bhi kuch nai keh rahi bhaiya ko. Mujhe ghar jaana hai." Ruhi said in tears while Ishita picked her up in arms. Ishita again looked at Raman "Do you want to see anymore ? my daughter is not going to attend this circus now. I dont care if it hampers budding friendship between Shagun and your sister but my daughter is not going to be a scapegoat. "
"Ram-" before Ishita could complete, he had turned on his heels to leave and she silently followed him with their daughter in her arms.
The journey to their home was relatively silent. Raman's white knuckle due to his tight grasp on steering wheel was enough for Ishita to know the level of anger. Ishita stroked Ruhi as she slept off in her lap while her mind raced towards the last hour - she was the reason of hurting two most important people in her life. She wiped off the tears from corner of her eyes and it didn't go unnoticed by Raman.
On reaching back, Ishita tucked Ruhi to sleep on their back while Raman removed his tuxedo. He opened the cupboard to take his night clothes when he felt her hand on his shoulder but he didn't budge "I am sorry." He knew she was crying, he knew she meant it but today he just couldn't let go off her indifference towards his gift.
"I am going to change in room, you use the bathroom." He kept standing with his back towards her as handed over her night dress to her. "Raman" she whispered but walked towards en suite bathroom with tears rolling down her eyes. Raman almost banged the cupboard when Ruhi crossed his mind and he threw his clothes on floor in frustration.
Ishita looked at her tear striken face as she loosened her long tresses from bun clip. Her vision again blurred as her hands reached for her pallu pin.
"Ouch!" He heard her voice from the bathroom followed by glass shattering on the floor and without waiting to knock he barged into the bathroom, which thankfully wasn't locked, and she turned around due to noise of door. Next instant he stood in front of her "what happened ?" He looked at her concerned and tears again welled up in her eyes. "Nothing. I pricked my finger with the pin and in haste dropped this glass stand." She spoke innocently as her eyes traced his face for a hint of anger. "Where did you get prick?" He asked and she showed her little finger to him which had a drop of bright red blood in there "Does this hurt?"
"Are you angry?"
"Let me apply something."
"I am sorry." He held her finger when drop of water landed on his hand. He looked up at her and his heart clenched in a fist
"I am sorry..I am."her voice cracked as she spoke and Raman cradled her face in his hands.
"You can't let me take some footage also." He spoke while her lips curved slightly "I am just worried for us Ishita. That dress doesn't matter to me but its you who does. I am worried that there will be times when someone can easily manipulate you and you might just leave me." Ishita looked at him shocked
"You think I can be that stupid ?" She asked but annoyed
"I can't tell lies." He joked and she hit him on his chest
"I will never leave you. I cannot " she said earnestly.
Ishita lowered her eyes as she declared her unsaid feelings and the next she felt his lips on her cheeks. She stood stunned while his hand went encircled her waist and which seemed like eternity, he moved away. She looked at him with whirlpool of questions "This time it is for me.My payback for the gift.'' He winked and left while Ishita couldn't let the smile wean off from her face .
Much love
Ruchi
PS - I am not being modest here but I so sorry for this incoherent write-up.
Kumkum Bhagya
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