Part 2 (a)
Mujhe Haq Hai
IshRa Bedroom (After 2 Hours)
Her head felt heavy and eyelids refused to open. First thing she sensed when she regained consciousness was the strong fragrance. She sniffed again to confirm she smelt roses and lilies. She batted her eyelids multiple times and found herself amidst numerous bouquets of white roses and lilies. For a moment she thought she was lying somewhere in a flower shop or a floral exhibition.
She was unable to comprehend why there were so many bouquets around and why she was sleeping so late into the day. A close analysis of her surroundings made her realize that she was lying on their bed in their bedroom.
A sudden jolt of pain in her right ankle and the familiarity of the surroundings reminded her of the events in the morning. Oh! I must have broken my ankle due to the fall, that is why I am sleeping right now.
Yet, she was unable to comprehend who had placed the countless bouquets of her favourite flowers around her and why. She stared at the bouquets to find the answers to who and why, when she found a card attached to each bouquet of different size and different style, carrying the same message I AM SORRY. That's it! Now she knew who and why.
Having found the answer to why she slowly tried to sit up to find where was who. She was sure he must be somewhere around her.
She was right indeed! Raman was sitting on the couch waiting for her to regain consciousness. As soon as he sensed a movement on the bed, he reached to help her sit leaning on the headrest, supporting her back with a pillow.
"Tum theek ho?"
"Hmm" was only what she could manage.
"Paani?"
"Hmm"
He immediately filled the glass on the side table and made her drink.
"Kuch khaogi?"
"Abhi nahi" her voice was hoarse.
"Dard horaha hai?"
"Hmmm"
Concern was evident from his gesture, but he avoided meeting her eyes. Ishita was confused why he was not meeting her eyes.
She wanted to ask him but he held her hand, head still lowered and said "I am sorry Ishita. Maine phir se tumhe dard diya"
Guilt! That's what troubling him she realized. It is not your fault, it was destined to happen' she wanted to tell him but decided against it. She very well knew that Raman would not accept it and continue feeling guilty until she was up on her legs and completely fine. So she thought of doing something unexpected.
"Apko to adat hogayi hai mujhe dard dene ki" she said sternly.
The unexpected accusation made Raman look into her eyes. He found them accusing too. He felt even more guilty. He tightened the grip on her hands and said "Sab meri galti thi Ishita. I am very sorry. Please mujhe maaf kardo"
"Ye achha hai. Pehle dard do phir sorry boldo. Jaise ki sorry bolne se sara dard chala jayega"
"I know ke meri galti maafi ke layak nahi. Tumhari takleef ka maine Mazak udaya. But mai genuinely tumse maafi maangna chahta hun"
"Aapne mere sath bahut galat kiya. Itni asani se mai apko maaf nahi karungi"
"Tum jo kahogi mai who karne ko tayyar hun"
"Pakka?"
"Pakka! IshiMa promise"
"To theek hai! Wardrobe open karo"
"Kya?" he asked baffled.
"Maine kaha wardrobe open karo" she tried to hide a naughty smile that appeared on her face. Raman was quick enough to catch her smiling and realize she was upto some mischief. Nevertheless he decided to play along.
"Jo hukm mere aqa" he complied, opened the wardrobe and turned towards her waiting for the next command.
"Ab right drawer open karo"
"Mera right?" he asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He was reminded how he had goofed up with the right drawer in his old house in Akash Ganga Society.
Ishita knew exactly what he was thinking right now. A blush crept up her cheeks at the memory. "Wardrobe ka right Ramannn"she said with a warning look.
"Mere right ka drawer kuch zyada interesting lag raha hai. Khol kar dekhlun kya rakha hai?" he teased.
"Ramannn...Khabardaar agar wo drawer khola to"
"Aisa kya hojayega agar khola to? Waise bhi maine apne X-RAY glasses se sab kuch to dekh hi liya hai"
"Ramannn" she fumed. He was having fun at the cost of her private clothings. She had started this game, how could she let him win? "Maafi chahye ya nahi?" she asked firmly.
"Maafi! Oh Haan! Drawer ke chakkar me thoda sa distract hogaya tha. Batao kya karna hai" he replied seriously.
"WARDROBE ka right drawer open karo" she said stressing on the word Wardrobe.
He opened the wardrobe. "Isme to books rakhe hain. Ab kya tumhe ye books padh kar sunaoon? Yaar kaala pani ki saza chahe to de do. Bas romantic novels padhne ki saza mat do please" he begged.
"Daro math. Books padhne ko nahi kahungi. Waise bhi romantic novels aap se sunna mere liye kaala pani se kam saza nahi hai. Aapke zaban se sirf taane hi achhe lagte hain"
"To phir drawer kholne ko kyun kaha. Isme aisa kya khazana hai?"
"Hai ek keemti cheez. Books ke neeche red envelope me rakhi hai. Use lekar yahan aao"
"Red envelopppe...hmmm...ye raha...mil gaya"
"Idhar lekar aao"
"Aisa kya hai is envelope me?" he said walking towards the bed and scrutinizing the envelope carefully "Red yaani danger.Kahin isme bomb to nahi rakha?"
"Kadve Punjabi. Sari cheezon ko apni tarah hi judge karte ho. Red ka matlab love bhi hota hai"
"Wo tum sweet madrasiyon keliye hota hoga. Hum to garam khoonwale red ko danger hi samjte hain"
"Kuchhh bhi?"
"Ab batao bhi isme hai kya?"
"Khud khole dekh lo"
Like an excited kid Raman opened the envelope. What he found left him dumbstruck with amazement.
"Yeh?Abhi bhi tumhare paas hai?"
"Haan"
"Magar aag me to sari cheezein jal gayi thi. Phir ye kaise?"
"Itni keemti cheez mai yahan wahan thodi na rakhungi. Apne khas cheezon ke sath sambhalke rakha tha maine"
"Ye tumhare liye itna khas hai?" he asked unbelievingly
"Ravan Kumar ke hath ka bana hua Sorry Card hai. Itni asani se thodi na milta hai. It's a priced possession you know" she said taking the card in her hands and bragging about it.
"Tumhare kanjeevaram se bhi zyada?" the question sounded silly but he wanted to know how special this card was for her.
"Haan Kanjeevaram se bhi zyada" she said holding the card close to her heart.
He was touched by her words. A simple card meant the world to her. He was amazed. He kept staring at her. Probably he wanted to capture the beauty of the moment and save it safely in his heart. He had never imagined his life to be so much beautiful, with a more beautiful wife who had the most beautiful heart.
Ishita found him staring at her and asked "Aise kya dekh rahe ho?"
He signaled her to keep quiet and said "Mujhe Haq Hai"
Mujhe Haq Hai
Tujhko Jee Bhar Ke Mein Dekhu
Mujhe Haq Hai
Bas Yuhhi Dekhta Jao
Mujhe Haq Hai
He had declared his right on her Biwi ho tum meri' but this moment and this declaration was something different. May be the love and passion in his sparkling eyes? or the hand that supported his cheek right now? or the head that was slightly inclined towards the right? She didn't know what made this moment special but she knew it was special and she could not but feel content.
The beeping of his phone broke the reverie. Ishita's Medicines the reminder read. He had the fixed the alarm for an hour before her medicines so that he could wake her up for lunch on time.
"Mai Neelu se kehkar tumhara khana upar mangwata hun"
"Upar kyun? Mai neeche chalke hi khaungi"
"Doctor ne 1 hafte ka bed rest kaha hai. Aur mai tumhe 1 hafte se pehle bed se utarne nahi dunga"
"Please na Raman. Mujhe sabke sath baithke khana hai"
"Ishita chote bachhon ki tarah zid mat karo"
"Please Raman! Aap meri itni si bat nahi manoge? Please" she pouted like Ruhi.
How could Raman say no to that puppy face! "Ok theek hai"
Excited Ishita immediatey placed her left leg on the floor and was about to lift her right leg when Raman yelled "Kar kya rahi ho tum?"
"Aap hi ne to kaha ke mai neeche chalke kha sakti hun"
"Maine neeche jakar khane keliye haan ki. Neeche chalkar jane keliye nahi"
"Phir mai neeche kaise jaungi"
"Chot pair me lagi hai. Dimag me nahi. To uska istemal kiya karo. Ruko wahin pe"
He said and gathered her in his arms.
"Raman ye aap kya kar rahe ho?"
"Apni biwi ko god me utha raha hun. Koi problem hai?"
"Achha nahi lagta Raman. Neeche sab log honge. Kya sochenge? Chodo na Raman. Please"
"Shhh...Mujhe Haq Hai" he said looking intently in her eyes. This declaration yet again made her silent and she kept staring at her husband. She was enjoying this version of her Ravan Kumar who was declaring his rights on her.
When they reached the dining area, the Bhalla clan who was already on the table hooted at the sight. Raman tried his best to hide his blush while Ishita's cheeks had already turned a deep shade of crimson.
Raman made her sit on a chair, filled her plate with all the veg options on the table and pulled a chair for himself beside her.
He picked up a morsel and offered her. She was too embarrassed already because of the hooting. She did not want to give any more chances to the teasing Bhalla clan. Moreover her hand was not injured, so she held his hand and said "Raman chot pair me lagi hai, hath me nahi. Mai khud kha sakti hun"
"Kha lo na bhabi. Warna bhai ke dil pe chot lag jayegi" Romi winked at her.
"Moo band kar, warna tujhe kahan kahan chot lagegi tu khud samajh nahi payega" Raman glared and Romi concentrated on his plate.
"Oh Madrasan! Doctor ne right hand pe pressure dalne se mana kiya hai. Isiliye khana khila raha hun. Warna mujhe koi shouk nahi hai sherni ke moo me hath dalne ki"
"Khana ek hath se bhi khaya ja sakta hai. Mai left hand se kha lungi"
"Achha? Pichli baar jab hath fracture hua tha tab kya akal ghans charne gayi thi? Apple ka ek slice bhi apne hath se nahi kha sakti thi, ab khana khane chali ho. Behes band karo aur khao"
Ishita smiled at the memory of him feeding her apple and helping her to tie her hair when she was struggling to eat. She was amused at his unique style of showing care.
She obliged and enjoyed the pampering. Her mother-in-law was definitely a good cook but the food seemed even more tastier today.
"Aapke hath me to kamal hai mummyji. Khana bahut tasty hai" she exclaimed.
"Kamal Toshiji ke hathon ka nahi, Raman ke hathon ka hai" Bhallaji teased.
"Khana Raman ne banaya?" she asked baffled.
"Nai oye. Khana to maine hi banayasi. Par jab pati apne hathon se khana khilaye to uska maza hi kuch aur honda hai" Toshiji nudged Ishita with her elbow.
"Roti pass karna Simmi" Ishita tried to divert their attention. She have had enough of teasing since morning.
"Apne pati par thoda to rehem karo. Mai chup chaap khila raha hun to tum thoosti jaogi kya?" Raman mocked.
"Ek roti khilane se apki hath toot jayegi kya? Itni problem hai apko to mai khud kha loongi" Ishita gave back.
"Hath ki kisko padi hai? Mujhe to meri kamar ki fikr hai. Pehli hi adh mara kamar hai mera, poori tarah thodna chahti ho kya?"
"Mere khane se apke kamar ki kya connection hai?" Ishita demanded.
"Itna thoos thoos ke khud ki weight badhaogi to kamar mera hi tootega na. Abe k hafte tak tumhe god me uthakar din me 3 baar dining table ki chakkar lagaunga to socho kya haal hoga mere kamar ka?"
"Kuchh bhi?"
"Kya kuchh bhi kuchh bhi. Lo...thooso" he offered her another bite.
"Mujhe nahi khana" she crossed her arms and turned away.
"Ruhi ki tarah zid mat karo. Kha lo. Warna zindagi bhar mujhe sunaogi"
"Khalungi to aap mujhe zindagi bhar sunate rahoge"
"Nahi meri jaan. Mai Mazak kar raha tha. Kuch nahi kahunga. Kha lo" he begged and forecefully made her eat.
The Bhallas choked on their food and stared at Raman unbelievingly.
"Aap log sab aise kyun dekh rahe ho?" Raman asked.
"Bhai aapne bhabi ko JAAN bulaya!?" Rinky asked? Stated?
Raman had not realized it until then. He quickly tried to cover up "Pagal kutte ne kata hai kya mujhe jo mai isko Jaan bulaunga. Wo to maine JAANsi ki Rani kaha tha. Aap logon ko Jaan sunayi diya hoga"
"Tu rehende bhai. Humein sab pata hai ke tujhe Pagal Kutte ne nahi Pyar ke keede ne kata hai" Simmi commented.
"Mai...haath...dhokar...ata...hun" Raman found an excuse and exited the scene as he could not take it anymore. A roar of laughter could be heard behind his back. Ishita helplessly had to remain there and blush harder.
Part 2 (b) - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/118636501
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