New SS: Never Again- Last chapter on PG 32 - Page 21

Chapter 12: last chapter

Three days later, Shagun has gone back to her home. Ishita and Ruhi are brought back to her apartment in the evening by 8pm. Raman knows that this is not the last time he will see them. He kisses Ruhi's forehead and hand her to Ishita and leaves.

Raman rushes straight to his room without saying anything to Toshiji. Toshiji knew her son won't share his pain with her. But still she makes it to his room and sees him standing by the window. She walks to him and stands by him. Raman hugs her and says

Raman: I know Ma, it is hard to imagine life without them two. But don't worry, I have faith in my love. they will be back.

Toshiji: I know puttar. Soja ab. Good night.

But sleep was far from his mind. Right now Ishita is occupying his mind and heart. He just sits on his bed, trying to read some work emails and focus on his work that he has avoided for three-four days.

Long behold,

At midnight same night:

Raman's phone rings. He was awake thinking about Ishita. He smiles looking at the caller's name. It was ishita

Raman: hello.

Ishita: hello Raman. Sorry to disturb you. Did I wake you up?

Raman: no not really. What's up?

Ishita; it's ruhi. She won't stop crying. I called the doctor and tried to explain her non stop crying. But the doctor seems to not find anything alarming. But I am scared.

Raman: Plays it cool. What would you like me to do? I can have a doctor come over and check on her.

Thinks: see, you both couldn't even spend 5 hours without me. Or chali thi puri zindagi akele bitane.

Ishita: it's useless raman. Can you come over? I think she might stop crying if you hold her.

In next few minutes, Raman is outside her apartment. She was waiting for him, crying herself with a wailing Ruhi in her arms.

Ishita: sobbing, Raman, I don't know what it is. I fed her, cradled her, changed her, and gave her a bath. But she won't stop crying.

Raman without answering her, took Ruhi in his arms. And within a minute, she stops crying. Ishita frowns at that.

Ishita: still crying, says, I think you have done some black magic on my daughter.

Raman: I wish I could. Than I would have done it on my daughter's mother too.

He takes now smiling Ruhi and crying Ishita to their bedroom.

He settles himself on her bed. The scenes is picture perfect.

Raman is sitting with his back against the head board in the middle of the bed with Ruhi lying on his left side and Ishita is his right arm, still sobbing.

Ishita: why is she like this Raman? How is it going to work? Still mumbling while getting drowsy. Raman pats her to sleep, while talking with his Ruhi. Ruhi and Raman too fall asleep. He had called his mom beforehand to let her know where he was.

In the morning:

Ishita was the first one to wake up. Raman had slid down with ishita still in his arm in the middle of the night. He laid down with ishita in his right arm and Ruhi in his left. And that is what she saw when she woke up. Sleeping Raman with her and Ruhi on his either sides. She saw how protectively he was holding them both like his life had depended on it. She was surprised at how Ruhi had slept thru the night.

They say, "life changes within a moment." Or "it takes only a moment to make a life changing decision."

Well, same thing happened to our Ishita. She has been struggling for past 6 months about her growing feelings for raman. But all it took her is this moment to make up her mind. She knew what she wanted.

She was reminiscing his confession while starring at his handsome face. She realizes Raman's unconditional love in that moment. Her heart was overpowering her mind right now. She felt loved and protected. She felt secured in his arms. She felt she trusts Raman with Ruhi so much, that now she can trust him with her heart too. She is in love with Raman and is ready to accept it. She slowly slide out of Raman's arm without waking him up.

She goes to kitchen and makes breakfast, pancakes and coffee. Raman wakes up with the smell of pancakes. He gets up and sees squilling Ruhi next to him, with her arms and legs in the air, kind of like telling him, "pick me up, pick me up please, please PAPA." Raman picks her up and goes out to the kitchen, where the amazing smell was coming from.

He sees a beautifully set table with a beaming ishita humming in the kitchen getting his favorite coffee ready. She was humming a song from an old classics movie: Guide

Kaanton Se Kheench Ke Yeh Aanchal
Tod Ke Badhan Baadhe Paayal
Ho... Koi Na Roko Dil Ki Udaan Ko
Dil Wo Chala Aaa... Aaa Aaa...
Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai
Aaj Phir Marne Ka Irada Hai
Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai
Aaj Phir Marne Ka Irada Hai

Raman is happy to see her happy. He is wondering a reason behind her sudden change. Ishita looks up and see him staring at her, lost in his thoughts, with a grin on his face.

Ishita thinking: how can somebody look this handsome just rolling out of bed?

She walks towards him and takes Ruhi from him. Ruhi is not crying anymore. She excuses herself and says I will go feed Ruhi, why don't you freshen up meanwhile. We will have breakfast together. She needed time to compose herself and think about a way she is going to talk about the "elephant in the room".

What she is going to say is going to have our Raman running for his entire life.

Ishita comes back with bathed, changed and fed Ruhi. Raman is already at the table sipping his favorite coffee, trying to focus on his emails. He is still wondering.

She gives him a covered plate. He picks up the plate cover and as he looks down to his plate, he sees a note in his plate and reads out loud:

"Tell me again"

He looks up at Ishita confused, who is looking at him smiling and she says

Ishita: what were you saying that day at the hospital? How long will you wait for me?

Raman: gets up from his chair, goes and stands in front of her and says, "Forever"

Now, ishita unwraps Ruhi from the blanket and hand him Ruhi.

Raman takes Ruhi in his arms and looks at her face lovingly. Suddenly his eyes roll down to Ruhi's shirt she was wearing. It read- "MY MOM LOVES YOU"

Raman looks up now to look at Ishita. But he doesn't see her. He suddenly looks down and sees Ishita on her knees, with one of her hand raised, expecting Raman would put his hand in hers. They both had tears in their eyes, this time for the same reason, LOVE.

This time Raman sees no anguish, no pain, no fear in her eyes. He only sees love and hope.

Ishita: will you marry me Raman Kumar Bhalla?

Raman is shocked, surprised and silent.

Ishits: say something Raman. You are scarring me.

Raman: laughing now. You couldn't even stay away from me for a day. Let me think. Hhmmm. Yeah, I will marry you. Just because I love my Ruhi, but one condition.

Ishita: can you at least get me off of my knees? And what is this for Ruhi only? I came in your life before ruhi. You were saying you love me. And now... And what is the condition?

Raman: puts his hand in Ishita's hand and get her off of the floor. Pulls her closer, Ruhi still in his arm, says, you have to say those magical words to me now and every hours from now on.

Ishita: blushes profusely. She looks up in his eyes and says; I have to confess few things.

Raman, when you came into my life, I was at my happiest place. Graduating from business school, you were up and coming India's youngest and most successful businessman. You were and are my inspiration. I aspired to be like you. It was my dream to work with you. And I did. You hired me.

But everything changed when subbu left me. You were there to support me thru my tough time. You and mummy stood by me no matter what. I thought mine and subbu's love was unconditional. But experiencing yours and mummy's dedication, I understood that this is called unconditional love. I thought staying away from you is best for you and me. But seeing my Ruhi and me with you this morning, I realized that this is where I want to be, in your arms, every time I open my eyes. I realized that what I thought is just friendship is actually love. Our ruhi already loves you. So here we go, WE ARE IN LOVE WITH YOU RAMAN KUMAR BHALLA. PLEASE MARRY ME.

Raman is now feeling ecstatic. He doesn't know how to react. He has lost his voice. He just pulls her close to him and gives her a tight hug. They pull apart when they hear ruhi's cries.

Raman: don't cry princess. Your papa is here. I am going to marry your ziddi, hot headed, Jhansi ki rani mom.

And hugs Ruhi. Ruhi stops crying now. Raman looks up at ishita

Raman: looks like you have a competition JKR. You will have to get an appointment from my Ruhi to see me.

Ishita: smacks his shoulder and pulls him to her. She holds his face with her hand, turn it sideways and kisses his chick.something she wanted to do since so long. Raman is happily surprised.

Raman: Ruhi, your mom needs to learn how to kiss your papa. But no worries, I will teach her. We now have our whole life to teach her. Let's start with lesson # 1: how to kiss your to be husband?

Saying so, he pulls Ishita closer with his one free hand on her waist. Ishita, being nervous, closes her eyes. Raman very slowly puts his lips on hers and kisses her very softly. Pulls away a little and kisses the tip of her nose. Ishita is in a different world. She keeps her eyes closed to mark this moment forever in her heart and her memories. they both looked down at a smiling ruhi, like she is saying,"i know what you are doing mom-dad."

Ishita and raman are at their happiest phase of their life. They are madly in love with each other. Ishita and ruhi are promised by raman that he will protect them and love them and cherish them forever.

Raman and Ishita are about to start a new life together with millions of new dreams and hopes.

The new beginnings, nowhere near to the end.

I am ending this SS here.

I am planning to right Ishra's romantic safar from courtship to marriage to another child. Naming it "EVER AFTER". But it depends on if you all want me write again.

over n out

NM