My creative story (Updated Chapter 5) - Page 3

Next morning, the house was in a mess. As it was Raman and Ishita's first lohri as married couple, Toshiji was trying to make it special. It was her way to apologize to Ishita. She made sure all preparations were done and that too in grand scale. Raman had asked Adi to invite his friends over as planned to which Adi was very happy. He wanted to invite his friends and be a part of his peer group and not odd one out. He immediately started calling his friends. Raman was helping mummyji with all preparation making sure it goes without any hitch.

Ishita gets up in the morning and sees a bouquet with all red roses and just a white one in the middle. It had a note attached to it which said "In every bunch there's one who stands out"and you are that one."
Ishita knows he is making effort but this time she is not sure whether to proceed ahead. Every time she has given him chance he threw it away. Soon she gets a call from Vandu akka " Ishu, lohri ki tayyari kaise chal rahi hai? Hum sab aa rahe hain. Raman ne khas invite kiya hai. Shravan bhi excited hai"

Ishita smiles realizing yesterday Raman had gone to Vandu akka for her. "Aapko invitation ki kabse jaroorat padne lagi? Aa jao akka."

Vandita realizing she was in a better mood starts talking. "Ishu, Raman efforts le raha hai. Uski kadar karo. Trust me, its rare. I know aasan nahi hai lekin baat badane se aur bigad sakti hai. Aaj use sabse jyada tumhari support ki zaroorat hai. Its not easy for him to deal with Adi and Shagun. He is giving his best."

Ishita understanding Vandita replies" I know akka. Par ab darr lag raha hai."

Vandita tries to convince her. "How about keeping an open mind? Maaf completely mat karna lekin don't ignore as well. Dekh Ishu, jhagda lekar baith jaogi to kisi ke liye bhi achcha nahi hoga. Thoda effort tum bhi daal do."

Ishita accepting her sister's verdict. "Sochti hun akka. You sound right. I will try to keep an open mind. Abhi jaana padega. Aaj school ki chutti hai to project complete karwa leti hun Ruhi se. Shaam ko waise bhi wo karegi nahi. See you later in the evening."

She quickly joined others for the preparation. As it was first time for her she was finding it difficult to comprehend the rituals. Ruhi was helping her in every step and following her constantly. After all the work Ishita got tired and sat on the couch. Immediately Ruhi got her water. After Ishita drank water, she hugged her tightly and said, "Aap pure duniya ki sabse best mummy hai!" Ishita smiled and mischeviously replied, "Aap ko kaise maloom? Aap thodi na har maa se mili ho?" Ruhi squeezed her tighter and said, "Ha mili hoon na. Aap hi toh ho meri puri duniya."

Ishita immediately had tears in her eyes and decided to make Ruhi happy in every situation. This also helped her taking the situation forward with Raman. She noticed he had stayed back from work and working religiously to make their Lohri special.

Deciding to make her move, she quickly cooked his favorite food palak paneer for lunch. During lunch everybody was bustling around and making small talk. Raman looked at palak panner and was happy that Ishita had prepared it for him. He took full bowl of palak paneer and complimented her. Soon the conversation was steered to marriage where Rinky and Romi refused arranged marriage. Toshiji sighed and said " Hamare zamane mein jaan pehchaan shaadi ki baad hi hoti thi. Aur in logo ke demand dekho. Humne kabhi apne maa-baap ko na nahi kaha. Har baat maante the."

Raman retorted "Mummyji, aaj bhi asli jaan pehchaan shaadi ki baad hi hoti. Asli rang to tabhi pata chal jata hai." Everybody laughed at his one liner. Toshiji looked at him happily realizing probably it has been sorted out. After lunch, few last minute preparations were made.

In the evening, first guests to arrive were Adi's friends. As decided by Shagun, they started playing "Find the treasure" and hid the lohri stuff. Ishita, as usual, was last one to get ready as she was helping everybody else. After everyone got ready, they proceeded downstairs so that they could wish other people. Shagun took Adi and his friends downstairs to help him play and also to start her plan. Ruhi went to Iyer's place to check whether they were ready.

Ishita changed into Punjabi suit and was putting on jewellery. She thought Raman, who was still on the phone, will look at her and compliment her. Raman did glance at her however did not bother even to gesture her about her looks. Ishita started mumbling, "Inhe mujhe patana tha. Jab pata chala sab thik hai toh ab dekh bhi nahi rahe hain meri taraf. Kaise pati hai!!! Ravan kumar!!". She tried again by wearing the earrings which Raman had presented to her in the morning. Then she looked at him and asked "Raman, sab thik lag raha hai na? Full Punjabi?"

Raman acting as if not affected, "Aise bol rahi ho jaise pehli baar pehna hai. Pehle bhi to pehnaa tha. Chalo ab der ho jayegi. Kabse tayyar ho rahi thi?"

Ishita not amused, just walks out of the door and goes to the kitchen. Thinking ice cream can maybe get her in a better mood opens the fridge. She sees tub of her favourite ice cream Baskin Robbins black current with a note attached.

"Madrasan, har baar compliment deta hun to bhi tumhe achcha nahi lagta. So iss baar kuch nahi bol raha hun aur directly ice cream leke rakha tumhare liye. Tum hamesha achchi lagti ho mujhe. Pata hai, If I were a stop light, I'd turn red everytime you passed by, just so I could stare at you a bit longer. Ab khaogi ya jhagde ke liye bacha ke rakhogi"

Ishita couldn't stop smiling reading the note and looked at him who was looking smug and standing right in the drawing room staring at her. Ishita chuckled and kept the tub back in the fridge however removed the note so that she can save it. Going near him she said, "to pata tha mein ice cream khaungi, to pehle kyun nahi bola?"

Raman shyly, "Ice cream leke aaya tha agar jaroorat padi to lekin kya pata jaroorat nahi padegi."

Ishita still staring at the note, "itna jante ho mujhe? Aur ye kal se notes likh rahe ho? Mera dialogue writer banana ka shauk hai kya?"

Raman looking directly at her, "tum naraaz thi to bolne ki himmat nahi hoti. Isiliyes notes ka sahara lena pada. Waise tumhara dialogue writer bada cheap tha. Ab mujhe rakhogi to apna standard kafi high ho jayega."

Ishita hit him in the chest and was about to say something when on cue Ruhi came and said "Abhi bhi yehi ho? Sab log intezaar kar rahe hai. Chalo jaldi, Ishima."

Without any choice, both followed their daughter unaware difficult times lied ahead.