OS Iqraar COMPLETE

It was three days after their aborted coffee shop date, when he had once again been interrupted just before he could tell her how he felt about her, proclaim his feelings for her, tell her what she meant to him.

Raman sighed and twirled his pen, inadvertently hitting Mihir as he stood collecting the signed contracts off his bhai's desk. They had just finished a three hour meeting in lockdown, negotiating the terms of a major new contract. The investors had now departed, and as Mihir tidied up the documentation, Raman had let his thoughts wander to his favourite preoccupation - his wife.

"Kya hua Bhai, aap ki dhyaan kahan hai?" Mihir looked at Raman with concern.

"Kuch nahi yaar. Nothing at all. Tum jao, I just need to look at some projections before I go home"

Raman knew he sounded petulant, and it wasn't really Mihir's fault that his latest attempt to confess his love to Ishita had been frustrated, but still... he just wished that he could whisk his wife away somewhere, far from all these interruptions, far from the cares of his family, his business, his life.

He glared at Mihir, who smiled and walked away, closing the door behind him.

Abandoning the projections on his desk, Raman stood up and started pacing around his cabin.

He recollected all his attempted confessions to date. The flowers he had bought on Shagun's hens night when those bas***ds had tried to molest his wife; the room he had booked at the hotel the night after she had brought him back from the airport; that morning when he had been teasing her with his "x ray glasses" and Shagun had walked in; New Years Eve, when he had made vows and given her the khandaani earrings but which she had turned into Adi's parents celebration; the night of Rinki's homecoming party, when he had attempted to seduce her with a song; and now finally, the coffee shop where Mihir had called to throw a spanner in the works.

No matter what he planned, or didn't plan, no matter how elaborate, or how simple, some kebab mein haddi was always around to mess things up.

And those three words, those three words which would seal irrevocably the feelings that both he and she already knew and acknowledged in their hearts, those three words remained unsaid... It wasn't really necessary, wasn't really important, and yet it was. For without that open acknowledgment of the changed equation between them, he knew that their fledgling relationship would continue to be at the mercy of the forces which conspired to tear them apart. He needed to tell HER, so that they could then tell the WORLD, just what they meant to each other. And he wanted the perfect time, the perfect setting for that first time when he said those three magical words to her.

His musings were interrupted by a sharp statacco knock on the door, followed by both Mihir and Romi bursting into the cabin, closely followed by Appa.

"Bhai, turn on the TV" Mihir shouted, frantically looking for the remote to the wall mounted unit.

"Kya hua" Raman asked with concern, noting the worried looks on their faces. "Appa, what's wrong?"

"Raman, beta, woh" Appa was just starting to speak when the scenes on the switched on television made his words redundant.

Raman stared in horror at the scenes of violence flashing across the screen.

"Violence hits Delhi Assembly Elections" the words scrolled on the bottom of the screen even as the news readers confirmed that the mayhem was indeed happening in their city, in Delhi.

"Mihir, make sure the office is secure, put the crisis management plans into action, go, go" Raman snapped out of the fuze which surrounded him, taking charge. As Mihir rushed out, he turned to Romi and Mr Iyer.

"Romi, appa, ghar call kijiye, make sure that everyone is at home"

"Mein ne call kia tha Bhai, sab log ghar par hai, papaji ne bachoo ko school se la liya tha. Sab theek hai, security kisi ko andar nahi aane degi. Aur woh area bhi bilkul safe hai. Wahan koi problem nahi. Sirf..."

"Sirf kya Romi?" Raman demanded.

"Raman beta" Appa cut in. "Ishu clinic gayi thi, uska mobile call kar rahe hai, lekin lagta hai sab mobile network down hai, woh ghar par nahi hai Raman."

"Aur Bhai" Romi found his voice. "Yeh danga usi area mein ho rahi hai, jahan Bhabhi ki office hai."

Raman stared at his brother and father in law in dawning horror.

Ishita. His Ishita. What if she was out in her car, if she was caught in the riot. No, no, he couldn't even imagine her in danger. He had to get to her. Had to make sure she was safe.

He rushed to his desk and dialled the landline at Ishita's clinic. "Please" he whispered a silent prayer. "Please let her be there, let her be okay"

The telephone rang for what seemed an infinity before it was picked up. The usually serene tones of the receptionist with her usual chirpy greeting were replaced by a panicked male voice saying hello.

"Is this the Batra Clinic?" He demanded.

"Haan, aap Kaun?" The voice responded.

"Mein Raman Bhalla hoon, Dr Ishita Bhalla ka husband. Dr Bhalla hai kya wahan?"

"Haan saab. Bas sirf wohi hai yahan, baaki sab chale gaye. Mein Abdul hoon saab, security hoon, madam bhi jaana chahti hai, lekin surgery mein thi na, aur phir uski car start nahi ho rahi thi na, toh der ho gayi aur tab tak baaki sab chale gaye. Woh abhi bhi koshish kar rahi hai, lekin bheed idhar aa rahi hai saab, maaloom nahi kya karna hai"

A momentary relief washed over Raman. At least she was not out on the roads on her own.

"Abdul, tum jaa kar usko roko. Usse kehna ki mein aa raha hoon usko pick karne aur mere aane tak woh kahi nahi jaaye. You understand? Usko wahin par hi rehna hai. Mein aa rahan hoon."

"Mein Madam ko kehta hoon saab. Lekin aap jaldi ayiye. Is area mein bahut saare political parties ki office hai, toh bheed idhar hi aa rahi hai. Aap jaldi aa kar Madam ko le kar jao."

Raman threw down the phone and ran out of his office.

"Romi" he threw back over his shoulder as he ran. " look after appa, and just stay here. Mein ja raha hoon Ishita ko laane."

Ishita stared in panicked frustration at her car, parked just outside the front door of the Batra Clinic. This was as far as she had gotten before the battery had died on her. She had flipped up the bonnet and, with the security guard, had been trying to decipher what the issue was when the persistent ringing of the telephone had drawn the guard back inside the building.

The noise of the enraged mob was getting closer and closer, punctuated by wailing alarms. She could see the flames of several fires in the background as the rapidly approaching dusk enveloped the city in a gloomy shroud.

"Madam" the security guard came running out. "Aap chalo, aap ka husband ka phone tha, woh aa raha hai aap ko lene, usne kahan aap idhar hi usko wait kare. Andar chalo Madam."

"Raman" Ishita looked at the guard in horror. "Nahi, yahan safe nahi hai, woh yahan kyon aa rahe hai. Tum ne usko roka kyun nahi?"

She ran inside and picked up the landline, frantically dialling Raman's office. But the phone line was dead, silence replacing the dial tone. She threw down the phone and ran to the door.

"Raman" his name echoed in her head, in tune to the beat of her frantic heart. "Please" she whispered a silent prayer. "Please let him be safe".

Raman drove frantically through the night. The streets were calm, although eerily deserted. The rest of Delhi had obviously picked up on imminent trouble and had gone home early.

If only he hadn't been in that damned locked down meeting... he mused, cursing softly. But Ishita. Why hadn't she gone home? Of course, the security guard had said she was in surgery when the others went away. Bloody cowards, including that Batra, leaving a woman behind.

He was just a few blocks away from the clinic when a roadblock loomed ahead, manned by police officers in riot gear. They waved the car down and Raman stopped, jumping out of the car.

"Aap aage nahi ja sakte, aage danga chal raha hai." A helmeted officer told Raman, pointing his laathi towards the trouble zone.

"Officer please" Raman tried to stay polite, even though the fear coursing though him made him want to lash out at everyone in his path. "Meri biwi akeli hai apni clinic mein. Mujhe unke paas jaana hai, please."

The officer resisted, but Raman Kumar Bhalla was not going to take no for an answer. Five frustrating minutes later, the officer was heavier in his pocket and Raman's car had been waved through into the lawlessness.

"Yaad rakhna sir" the officers drawl resonated in Raman's ears. "Jab tak reinforcements nahi aate, hum is ilaake mein andar nahi ayenge. Five minutes mein aa sakte hai, ya phir ek ghanta bhi ho sakta hai. Tab tak aap apne own par ho."

Raman drove cautiously, the sounds of the enraged mob getting louder the closer he got to Ishita's office. When he was just a block away, he pulled into a deserted garage, and got out of the car, locking it behind him and hoping it would still be there when he returned with his wife. He then set out on foot towards the Batra clinic and the sounds of mayhem.

Raman's heart missed a few beats as he rounded the corner and found himself in the middle of the troublemakers. There appeared to be hundreds of men, all dressed in the colours of a political party, making for the office of a rival party. They brandished laathis, some held aloft effigies and placards and frighteningly for Raman, the office they were making for was right next to the Batra clinic.

Raman had discarded his jacket in his car, and tried to blend in with the chanting crowd as he moved swiftly through them, towards his Ishita.

Ishita had stood watching from a window in her clinic as the mob approached. She knew their target was the building next to hers, but even so, the fear of what they might to HER caused shivers to run down her spine. A mob of men, baying for blood, they wouldn't care about who or what if they found a lone woman in their midst.

Her mind flashed back to her attempted molestation at the hands of Ashok and his cronies.

"Raman" she whispered. "jaldi aao please"

Her musings were interrupted by loud yelling as the mob descended on the building next door. She watched in horror as stones and flaming torches were thrown at the building, some also missing their target and falling on her clinic instead. She rushed into the corridor as flames started to take hold of the billowing curtains at the entrance.

"Madam" Abdul was screaming. " aag lag gayi. Aap bahar aao."

Ishita rushed to the front door and then stood hesitating. The burning clinic appeared a sanctuary compared with the baying mob outside.

"Madam" Abdul was pleading with her. "Aap bahar aa jao please. Mein hoon yahan"

Ishita extended her hand hesitatingly then gasped as she was pulled roughly into the strong arms of a man who came rushing out of nowhere.

"Nahi" she shouted. "Chodo mujhe" even as the man scooped her into his arms and started to run, his face obscured by the fading light and rising smoke.

"Yaar kabhi toh chup raho" his words were like salvation for a forsaken soul, the sweetest words she had ever heard her husband utter.

"Raman" she sighed his name, letting her head drop back against his chest, ceasing her struggle, and throwing her arms around his neck.

"Hold on tight Ishita" was all he said in response as he continued to run against the crowd, trying to make his way back to his car, shielding her with his body against the grasping hands and bodies which jostled against him.

He had almost made it, was only about 50 metres from his car when the sounds of sirens punctuated the night, as the reinforced police force finally entered the troubled zone. The sound of the sirens acted as a catalyst to an increased intensity of bedlam, as the crowd started to turn and run past Raman. In the ensuing chaos, he felt Ishita slip from his arms as he was knocked around by the mob. He tried desperately to hang on to his wife but watched in horror as her hand slipped from his, and her slight form in her light sari, visible only in patches of light from the flaming buildings, got separated from him by a wall of fleeing men.

"Ishita" his screams were pure desperation. "Ishita"

"Raman" Ishita cried at the top of her voice, as she felt herself being wrenched out of the safe cocoon of her husbands arms, as she was carried away by the sea of bodies, away from him. "Raman"

Ishita felt herself being pushed further and further to the edge of the running men until she hit a wall. Her sandals had been wrenched off her feet and the pallu of her sari was hanging around her in tatters. But she was unmindful of all that as she clawed desperately at the wall, sending out silent prayers for help. Suddenly, to her fervent relief, her hands found a nook into which she was able to press herself, safe from the bodies pushing at her. She remained in the nook for what seemed like an eternity as the mob ran up the street, chased by police officers, the wails of sirens, the statacco bursts of gunfire fired in warning acting as background music to their flight.

It was only when the noise had died away that she dared to venture from her hiding place. She stepped out onto the littered street, strewn with the debris of the riot, lit up by the burning buildings up the street, populated by grim faced police officers in riot gear.

It was then that she heard him. Heard him before she saw him.

"My wife is there somewhere, let me go, I have to find her, chodo mujhe. Meri Ishita hai wahan. Ishita " his screams were primal, laced with the desperate fear that he had lost her.

"Sir, I told you before, yeh jagah dangerous hai. Aap ko yahan aana hi nahi chahiye tha, lekin aap ne zid ki. Please stand back, warna hume aap ko arrest karna padega. Please"

"Ishita" his screams had turned to sobs. "Ishita"

She ran towards his voice, unheeding of the pain inflicted on her shoeless feet, uncaring of the grimy ripped sari which hung from her, her face darkened with soot and dust, streaked by her tears.

"Raman" she cried out.

He turned and saw her running toward him, the fear in his ashen face replaced by a look of pure relief and thankfulness. His knees buckled as he held onto the bonnet of the police car he was standing in front of, tears of relief obscuring his view of her as she bridged the final few metres between them and stood before him.

"Raman"

She flung herself into his outstretched arms, clinging to him desperately as she remembered the moment of horror when the force of the teeming crowd had wrenched her from those very arms,had carried her away from him.

He crushed her to his chest, incapable of speech, not quite comprehending the miracle that had returned her to him, unhurt; but thankful, oh so thankful for the fact that she was in his arms. His arms squeezed her even tighter as she clung to him, murmuring his name over and over through her tears, until her broken sobbing was all that he could hear.

"Hey, hey, Ishita, shhh, it's okay, it's okay, shhh, Ishita, bas, ab bas" he pulled her away just a little so he could look at her face, reassure her. But the sight of her beloved face, distorted by tears, covered in soot and grime, was too much for Raman to bear. He pulled her back into his arms, his fingers digging into her hair as he cradled her head to his chest. "It's okay, I'm here, you're safe. Kuch nahi hoga tumhe, kuch nahi. I love you Ishita. Kuch nahi hone doonga tumhe. I'm here, my love, shhh, ab bas"

"Mil gayi aap ki biwi Sirji, ab aap log yahan se jao. Bada danger zone hai abhi bhi yeh" the police officers voice cut across his murmured reassurance to his wife.

Raman pulled himself together. "Thank you Inspector, aap ne jo help ki"

He looked down tenderly at his wife " Ishita, let's go home hmm. Ghar chale."

Ishita continued to cling to him and he slowly unfastened her hands from around his neck, pulling her away from him. It was then that he noticed the tatters of her sari, her bloodied feet.

"Ishita" he whispered, his face ashen again. "Are you okay. Yeh kaise?"

He didn't wait for an answer, scooping her up into his arms as he moved rapidly away from the police, striding down the street to their car. She had still not said anything, her sobs the only sounds which came from her.

He was relieved to find the car where he had left it, still in one piece although dented and covered in soot. He quickly opened the door and sat Ishita down on the front seat, covering her with his jacket. He was straightening up to go to the drivers side when he felt himself being held back. He looked down and saw her hand grasping his tightly.

"Raman" Ishita whispered, her voice hoarse and low. " aap kahan jaa rahe ho? Don't leave me."

Raman knelt again by Ishita's side, leaning into the car and taking her into his arms.

" I'm just getting into the drivers seat Ishita. Kahin nahi jaa raha hoon tumhe chod kar. We have to get out of here sweetheart, hmmm. Yahan abhi bhi safe nahi hai."

"Sorry" she whispered. " mein ne socha ki aap kahin ja rahe ho..."

He pulled away and cradled her face in his hands.

"No" he replied. " don't you ever apologise to me, you hear. Jo bhi kehna hai mujhse haq se bolo. Tum meri zindagi ho Ishita, you're my world, you're my life. I love you so much, aaj agar tumhe kuch ho jaata, aaj agar mein tumhe kho deta, toh mein mar jaata. I would've died Ishita. I love you yaar. I love you. I love you so much."

Tears of joy welled up in Ishita's eyes.

"Raman" she spoke through the tears which cascaded down her face. "Raman, I love you too. I love you so much. Mujhe jab guard ne kaha ki aap aa rahe ho, toh mujhe aap ke liye dar lag raha tha, lekin Raman I wanted you to come. Mein jaanti thi, ki agar aap aajaoge toh mujhe kuch nahi hoga. I knew you would keep me safe Raman, I knew you would keep me safe."

He grabbed her in a bear hug, burying his face in her hair momentarily. "Always" he told her firmly, dropping a kiss on her forehead before standing up again. "Now let's go, hume yahaan se nikalna hai Ishita."

She made no protest this time as he closed her door and swiftly took his own seat. He helped her to fasten her seat belt, tucking his jacket firmly around her, and swiftly wiping her face with some tissues. That done, he smiled at her again and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as he put the car into gear. "Let's go Mrs Bhalla" he said as the car started on its perilous journey.

It took him almost two hours of stops and starts at various police blockades before he was able to get his wife safely home. She had fallen asleep in the car, emotionally exhausted from the events of that evening, one hand tucked into his.

He carried her up to their apartment, his jacket around her, covering her, as he clutched her possessively to him.

They were met at the door by the Bhallas and Iyers - both amma and Mummyji gasping in horror at the sight of Ishita's prone, grimy and bruised figure in Raman's arms.

"Kya Hoya Puttar?" Mummyji cried out.

"Kuch nahi Ma, sab theek hai" he responded, continuing towards their room. "Bache kaha hai?"

"Woh hamaare yahan hai Raman" Amma whispered, traumatised at the sight of her daughter. "Rinki ke saath. Raman, meri Ishu.."

"Amma, Ishu is fine, sirf tired hai, isi liye she fell asleep. Aap worry mat kijiye please. We got caught in the riots, lekin mein waqt par pahuch gaya tha, Ishita ko kuch nahi hua. Mein baad me aa kar bacho se milta hoon, aap logon ko sab kuch bataoon ga, but please, abhi mujhe apni biwi ke saath kuch waqt akele chahiye. Please" he turned to Simi, who was also following them. "Simi, get some hot water and the first aid kit please."

Walking into the room he laid Ishita down tenderly on their bed, then walked to the wardrobe to get a change of clothes for both Ishita and himself, which he laid on the couch.

Simi walked in then with the hot water and first aid kit. "Kuch madad chahiye Bhai?" She asked softly.

"No, Simmi thanks. Chahiye hogi toh bula loonga tumhe."

Simi nodded understandingly and walked away, closing the door behind her.

Raman sat by his wife and stared lovingly at her face. Even with all the grime and soot on her, streaked with her tears, her hair in disarray, she was still the most beautiful sight in the world. He knew that Shaguns entry into their home had brought its own set of tensions to their marriage, he knew that after everything Adi had done to hurt her, it must be so difficult for her to extend her selfless love towards Adi, and yet she did it; she did it for him because she knew how special Adi was to him. And it was that inner beauty of hers that led her to forgive Adi time and again, that led her to bear Shagun just so Raman could be with his son; that inner beauty was reflected on her face, and he, he was the luckiest man in the world to love and be loved by this woman.

Tears welled in his eyes as he stared at his sleeping beauty. Wiping his eyes resolutely, he dipped a face cloth into the warm water brought by Simi and carefully began to wipe the grime off her face.

Ishita stirred restlessly, as his gentle ministrations on her face woke her from her slumber. Her eyes blinked open to see him seated beside her, his hands gently sponging her neck.

"Raman" she whispered.

"Jaag gayi meri Jhansi ki Rani?"

"Hum ghar aa gaye?"

"Haan, tum toh ghode bech kar so rahi thi, mujhe hi tumhe yahan lana pada."

"Ruhi? " she asked.

"Ruhi bilkul theek hai, Rinki aur Adi ke saath tumhare appa ke ghar par hai. Hum naha kar fresh ho jaaye, phir mein tumhe lekar jaonga uske paas. Aise tumhe dekhti toh dar jaati woh. Bilkul chudail lag rahi thi tum"

"Raaman!!!" She pouted.

He chuckled and moved to the foot of the bed, gently placing one of her feet on his lap. Dipping another towel into the jug of warm water, he began to wipe the grime off Ishita's bruised and cut foot.

"Raman, yeh kya kar rahe ho aap?" Ishita tried to pull her foot away, but he held on firmly.

"Chot lagi hai, clean kar doon, phir tumhare shower ke baad bandage kardenge, hmm."

"Lekin aap kyun, yeh aap ki kaam nahi hai?" Ishita was mortified.

"Kyun?" He cocked an eyebrow, a soft smile on his lips. "Agar mujhe chot lagti, kya tum nahi karti? Toh mein kyun nahi?"

"Lekin Raman"

"Bas yaar, kitni baat karti ho." He pulled her second foot onto his lap and started on that. " mein tumhe robe deta hoon, tum pehen lo, tab tak mein tumhare bath organise karta hoon."

"But but Raman" Ishita shivered under his gentle touch, the pain in her feet subsiding as if by magic at the gentle touch of his fingers.

"Kya Ishita" he placed both her cleaned feet on the bed and stood up, bringing a floral robe to her. "Itna nahi kar sakta mein apni biwi ke liye? Aur dekho, tum jaldi se change karlo, warna abhi mein khud aa kar change karwa doonga."

He chuckled and walked into the bathroom,leaving his bemused wife behind.

He returned after she had changed and then insisted on carrying her into the bathroom, where he sat her down on the bath stool, within easy reach of everything. She called out to him after she had showered and re apparelled herself in the gown, and he had sauntered into the bathroom, freshly showered and changed himself.

"Aap ne kahan shower ki?"

"Bacho ki room mein. Waise toh yahin tumhare saath shower kar sakta tha, lekin mujhe laga tum abhi itni excitement handle nahi kar paogi" he winked at her as he lifted her into his arms.

Ishita blushed and lowered her eyes, suddenly vividly aware of his hard form against hers, her arms around his neck grazing his stubbly cheek evoking delicious unknown sensations in her.

"Oye hoy, sharma rahi ho meri madrasan?" He smirked as he unloaded her gently on the bed. "Tumhe kya lagta hai, ab mein tumse dur reh paonga?"

Ishita blushed and cast her eyes downwards as Raman again took her feet onto his lap, caressing them gently with his slender fingers.

"Does it hurt bachi? He asked her softly.

Ishita shook her head, tears welling in her eyes at the gentleness in his voice, the love and concern in his eyes.

"Nahi, bas thoda Raman" she whispered.

"Jhoothi" he retorted, gently rubbing an antiseptic cream on her cuts, then wrapping first one then the other foot in bandages. "If it doesn't hurt, then why are you crying, huh?"

"Woh toh mein..." Her tears were falling freely now.

"Shhh" he moved up to the head of the bed, taking her into his arms and leaning on the headboard, his arms wrapped securely around her. "Kitni roti ho yaar. Ruhi bhi itna nahi roti jab usko chot lagta hai hmm. You're a big girl na?"

"Nahi Raman, woh mein... I can't believe, mein kitni lucky hoon, aap, aap..."

"Haan, lucky toh tum ho" he chuckled against her damp hair, his arms tightening even further. "But not as lucky as I am. Nowhere as lucky as I am"

"Raman" Ishita raised her tear streaked face to her husband, only to see his own eyes swimming in tears. She lifted a hand to gently caress his face "aap ne meri jaan bachai"

"Aur tum ne meri jaan bachai, the day you married me" he caught her hand in his and brought it to his lips, kissing each finger reverently. She blushed and snuggled back into his arms.

"Do you know Ishita" he moved one hand to play with her tresses, while the other held her close to his heart. " I had all these grand plans to confess my love to you. Flowers, candles, violins, expensive hotels, overseas trips, I thought all that was necessary to show you just how much I love you, but today, when I thought I had lost you, I realised that none of that matters. Woh sab koi ma-ine nahi rakhta. Zaroori yeh hai ki tum mere paas ho, tum mere saath ho, bas, aur kisi cheez ki zaroorat nahi."

Ishita smiled shyly against his chest, her heart thudding at her proximity to him. "Phir se keh do na" she whispered.

"Accha, toh madam ko phir sunna hai? I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you. Enough?"

"No, it will never be enough" she laughed as he sat up, pulling her with him.

"Acha ab chalo yaar, tumhe neeche lekar jaata hoon, tumhari amma, meri mummy aur hamari beti, sab tumhara intezaar kar rahe honge"

"Unhe yahin hi bula lo na Raman"

"No" he got up and scooped her up into his arms. " yeh hamari room hai, Grand Central Station nahi. I have plans for you and this room sweetheart, and mujhe apni plans mein koi kebab mein haddi nahi chahiye. Especially that Shagun. So this room is out of bounds for everyone now."

"Even Ruhi?"

"Nahi, woh reh sakti hai yahan kabhi kabhi, lekin roz roz nahi. Aur tum theek ho jao na, toh kuch din toh bilkul nahi, samjhi."

Ishita blushed and hid her face in his chest. "Kuch bhi" she giggled. "Paagal Punjabi"

"Tumhara paagal punjabi, my mad madrassan" he retorted, walking down the steps towards their waiting family. "Sirf aur sirf tumhara."

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