A strange relationship- Updated PART 6* 14 March* PAGE 19 - Page 2

Great start plz Pm me when u update

Very nice Start ...I must say !

An awesome start...plzz continue n PM if possible!

Part 2

It was 12:30 already and Raman waited in the parking lot for Ishita. "What is she doing?" He muttered under his breath. He hated waiting. He didn't mind making people wait but he himself hated waiting. He fished for his phone to call her when he heard those heels clicking on the concrete floor hurriedly, "Sorry sorry sorry, Mr. Singhvi had some work so he wanted me to do small research work and-"she gulped in a lungful of air. "I-" Ishita again paused for breath. Raman smiled. He just couldn't stay angry at her. She looked adorable all red in the face from running.

Ishita was surprised Raman wasn't angry at her. She looked at him a little confusedly but since they were getting late and Raman gestured her to sit in the car, she didn't ask him anything. The moment she opened the passenger door of his car a strong waft of smoke hit her and cringed before she could help her facial muscles to not contort into such a disgusting face, Raman noticed it and they both looked at each other with sheepish expressions for different reasons.

Raman couldn't feel more embarrassed. He knew she was allergic to smoke as she had once requested him to not smoke near her when they were out for some meeting and since then he had always remembered that. Always. He was addicted to smoking and he was not proud of it. The stress that came with the profession was one of the professional hazards but he knew he couldn't lay the sole blame on his profession. People cope with stress all the time without smoking, he was just addicted. But he had been trying really hard to quit since past 6 months. Now from 20 a day, it was just 2.

Raman quickly rolled down the windows of his SUV and switched on the fan in the car. The air freshener which was attached to the vent started working. "Sorry." He apologized to her. She smiled and said No problem. Let's go Raman or else we will be too late.'

The car zoomed past the embassy road and Shantipath. Both sides of the road lined by beautiful amaltash tress, small trimmed bushes by the footpath had beautiful little flowers and the road was almost empty. It was lovely. Ishita smiled. She loved Delhi.

"Why are you smiling?" asked Raman, curious to know why she smiled for no reason. To be honest, he was always curious about everything related to her. Ishita turned to look at him and realized his eyes were shielded by a pair of dark ray bans! She hated conversing with people who wore sunglasses. Call it her lawyer instinct or something else she could never understand where to look as their eyes were always covered, it always seemed to her as if the other had some kind of advantage over her that that person can see everything clearly and she can't. It made her uncomfortable.

"Uh, just that Delhi looks beautiful right now, what with the spring just around the corner." Raman smiled. "Yes, that is true. I love Delhi during winters and spring time. Summers are death and monsoons just dirty" he made a face. Ishita agreed with him.

The silence continued for 5 minutes and when Raman could no longer bear it he said, "We are going to have to convince Mr. Mathur(client) to take this into arbitration first." This topic was safe. Work related. He was dying to ask her about her relationship status but knew he couldn't. Wanted to know how she was coping with everything right now. From what he had heard she was committed enough to get married to that Subramaniam guy. He had once seen her with him, and that guy seemed a little aloof to him. He didn't know what made him think that but Subramaniam seemed not that into her. He thought he was wrong initially and desperately wanted to be right all these 2 years but now looking at her forlorn face and the smile that didn't reach her beautiful eyes, he hated being right.

They pulled in front of the Maurya. Their lunch was at Bukhara. As they walked inside together, they earned a lot of appreciative glances. They made a beautiful pair. While he was tall and had features that of a male GQ model, his always present 5 o'clock shadow lent him a rugged look. He was a little over 6 feet. Ishita was 5 feet 7 inches, 5 feet 10 in her heels. Exceptionally fair skinned and her doe shaped eyes sparkled. Dressed in formals, they both looked like a part of some movie poster which came alive. They were led towards their reserved table and they noticed the clients were not there yet.

Ishita groaned inwardly. More of awkward silence. She felt too weird sitting quietly; it was against her nature to be so quiet. But she never understood why she was never able to chatter like she usually did, with him around. Maybe she feared he would judge her?

He felt agitated, angry. He chided himself at the way he was behaving, he hated that she was never the way she normally is around him. What did she think? That he would judge her? It's fine Raman. Let her be, she just doesn't want to talk maybe.' He told himself.

"Umm, you want to order something?" she asked a little tentatively, a little apprehensive because of his sudden stiffness. "One miller please." He asked the waiter. Ishita ordered a lemon ice tea, earning a smile from Raman which instantly made her defensive for some reason. "Why are you smiling at me like that?" She demanded. Raman knew she was a forced to be reckoned with in the courtroom, but he never knew her one demanding sentence could turn him on like this. This was uncomfortable. Heck! This was embarrassing. "Nothing, just that of all the things you could have ordered, you ordered ice tea?" He asked smiling. "SO what? I like ice tea. And I am not like you. I don't like having alcohol in the afternoon" she said defensively. "Its just beer Ishita." He said as if talking to a child. She didn't like that one bit. "Just because I don't like alcohol much doesn't mean I am naive" she said, angry and troubled that he maybe thought she was too naive or something. "When did I ever imply that you are naive?" he asked, smirking. "But you think so, don't you?" she asked him again, with that little pout which she didn't realize she was making, which Raman wanted to kiss away.

He groaned inwardly. She was bad news for him. "Not preferring alcohol has got nothing to do with naivety Ishita. I cannot believe you think that NOW. Wasn't this thought process apt some 10-11 years ago, when we were in high school?" He chuckled. Oh my. What a sexy chuckle. Why had she never noticed that before? Murugan. I don't like you. You always put me in tough spot. Ugh!' she silently complained to her murugan. "Whatever. But I am not a kid. I drink, just not like you do." She complained and crossed her arms making her blazer tighten around her chest and since her first two buttons were open; her light pink shirt gave quite a glimpse of that tempting cleavage.

Holy mother of god. Why did I agree to come with her alone? Why? Raman questioned his decision for some 50^th time. "I am glad you don't drink like I do. Its unhealthy" he said with a small smile. Ishita lowered her defensive posture and looked at him sadly, why do you do it then? When you know it's unhealthy for you?" She went from defensive to being concerned in seconds. Raman suddenly felt too happy. He didn't know why. He knew why, just didn't want to acknowledge that her concern for him could make him so happy.

"I don't know. I guess Punjabi family and you know..." he trailed off. Oh yes! He was a Punjabi. They lived on alcohol and non vegetarian food. She still looked at him a little perturbed, and then he reached out and touched her hand across the table, "relax Ishita. I am not an addict. I drink, but sometimes. Not daily." He smiled at her, trying to reassure that he was not dying anytime soon. "That's fine, I just worry what with your smoking addiction and then this alcohol you will fall sick and-" she stopped short when she realized she just expressed her concern for him and noticed his raised eyebrows. Aiyyo! You are not his best friend. You are not supposed to say such things Ishita. Its his life. Shut up shut up. He must be thinking you are such a mom' She angrily reminded herself.

"I have been trying to quit" Raman said slowly, waiting for her reaction. Her eyes shot up to his. "You are?" She shrieked and then guiltily looked around and repeated in hushed tones. "Yes" He grinned. "Its down to 2 per day." "Oh wow! I am so happy for you Raman" she gushed, genuinely happy for him.

And before he could say anything more Mr. Mathur walked in. They ordered lunch and when Mr. Mathur and his associate offered chicken kebabs to Ishita, before she could politely say no Raman said, "she is a vegetarian, Mr. Mathur", very protectively.

Ishita looked up at him and he took the plate and put it back near Mr. Mathur's plate. She suddenly felt warm and squishy inside. He knew she was a vegetarian? Of course he knew. We have been on so many dinners and lunches and all. Of course he knew Ishita. She told herself, trying to not give it too much importance. They convinced the client to go for arbitration first, though it took a lot of convincing as he was after the respondent's blood. The client wanted to thrash the other party, but knew for his company's privacy, he would have to go through arbitration proceedings first. So he conceded. Mediation was out of question for Mr. Mathur as according to him it was too mild' for them. Raman and Ishita were not called brilliant for nothing. They discussed their case further and decided to file for arbitration the first thing upon returning to office.

Ishita realized today again how well Raman talked. The way he would convince the clients, the way he would slowly but steadily build his case and put forth his points, his knowledge. He was quite good. She always considered herself lucky she got to work with him, but this seemed a little different this time. She always appreciated his work but today, she was somehow a little more than necessary affected by him.

As they were on their way to office, there was a lot of rush on the roads. She sighed. Hating she would have to make small talk again. She always felt tongue tied around him. Before she could say anything Raman's phone rang. She saw him roll his eyes when he saw the ID. She suddenly felt a pang of jealousy. Who was calling? One of his many girlfriends? She thought and then mentally shook her head. Surprised she would feel that way. "Do you mind if I keep it on loudspeaker?" he asked her. She shook her head.

His mother's voice blared out of the speakers.

"Oye Raman! Tujhe kal se call kar rahi hoon. Maa ki value hi nahi hai koi. Ek baar toh call back karta?" He looked sheepishly at Ishita and saw that she was smiling, "Maa I was busy, sorry! Say what happened?" He said, his face automatically lightening. "Mom can't call you without any work? I just wanted to talk to my son. I know he has become one fancy schmancy lawyer but he should have time for his mom." His mom complained. He laughed and looked apologetically at Ishita and mouthed sorry. Ishita shook her head again and smiled. Its fine, she mouthed back.

"Ma, I am with my colleague, and I am driving, I will call you at night? I promise ma!" he asked, almost pleading her to cut the call, he couldn't talk right now. "Oye tu drive kar raha hai? Accha ek baat dass, kaunsi colleague? That pretty south Indian one? Badi soni kudi hai, main toh kehti hun tu haan bolega toh main vyaah shaah ki baat karti usse-"

Raman looked horrified. He turned to look at Ishita who looked as if she had choked on something. He lunged for the phone placed on the dashboard and it fell near Ishita's feet and he before could catch it with his one hand his mom's voice continued from speaker- "mainu vaddi changi lagdi si. Bol, should I talk to her? My puttar is so handsome, she can't even say no, you two work together also-"

Raman closed his eyes. God. This was next level embarrassing. He stopped his car suddenly and Ishita removed her seat belt to reach down and pick up the cell phone. He noticed her flushed face. God. Why?

"Raman? Are you there? Hello? Raman? Puttar?" No he was dead and in hell. Now suddenly his mom realized Raman was too quiet. NOW she realized? Raman cursed. Damage was done. Ishita would not look at him. "Mom later" he said angrily and cut the phone. He cursed in the choicest cuss words in his mind and started the car again. "I am sorry." He said softly after 5 minutes of pin drop silence in the car. They were not anywhere close to office yet and he hated this impregnated silence. "I..I..there is nothing like that. My mom just thinks you are beautiful, which you are by the way, and since the first day she met you she has been going crazy and also there is this thing that I don't want to marry right now and mom keeps worrying about me and she thinks that if someone from my professional field agrees to marry me, even I would agree. She doesn't know that I wouldn't agree. Not right now anyway. I am really sorry Ishita, I didn't mean to embarrass you. My mom, my mom talks a lot, and it was just said in jest and not seriously and-" His rambling stopped when he suddenly heard her laughing. He looked sideways and noticed she clutched her sides and was falling over the dashboard. She couldn't breathe. She laughed and laughed and laughed and then she turned to look at his sour face.

Did he think she was laughing at him? That thought made her sober up. She reached and touched his hand. He jerked as if burnt. She quickly wiped off her tears and said, "Hey! Its totally okay. I know aunty didn't mean any of that. Its just that your horrified expression was one of the most comical things I saw in a long time ..so.." she chuckled again. He made a face. "You think its funny?" She laughed again at his face. God. He looked adorably affronted. Adorably affronted? Ishita, control. "Yes. It is funny. Did you see your expression? You looked so embarrassed. And the mighty Raman Bhalla doesn't always look like this, so.." she chuckled. "Very funny" he bit out sarcastically and pulled the car in the parking lot of the office. "I am glad aunty thinks I am good looking enough to be paired with THE Raman Bhalla" she tried to lighten his mood. "Of course you are beautiful. No one would think otherwise." He said as a matter of fact and locked the car and walked towards the elevator. He did not notice Ishita's eyes which sparkled at his compliment. He wasn't aware about the fact that she never considered herself good enough for him. She always thought he dated stunning women as she had once seen his girlfriend in the office and to be given a compliment by that man? Ishita was flattered.

She slightly nudged him while waiting for the elevator to arrive at the basement. He did not look at her. She could make out lingering red spots on his cheeks. Aww. He was still embarrassed. "Don't you think the meeting went well? You were good Raman" she tried to make a conversation, only to get a nod as a response.

Now she was getting exasperated at his stupid behaviour. They were not kids, and its not like this happened in front of his high school crush or something. "Raman, I know aunty was not serious. I know a guy like you can never be interested in me and it's totally fine. I don't understand why you are still angry." She ranted. Raman looked down at her, he was not angry just embarrassed but now he was. "What do you mean by a guy like me?" he bit out.

"Just that you are not the marrying kind. I know you have had several girlfriends and stunning ones at that-" she shot back but was stopped by Raman when he asked- "What makes you think I won't settle down?"

He looked at her devoid of any emotion on his face but inside, he was really curious. "You have had too many partners and you enjoy that and-" Ishita noticed the look of hurt that crossed his face and stopped. Shit. It didn't exactly sound flattering. Not cool Iyer. Not cool. "I am sor-" "Didn't think you thought I was a manwh*re. Nice to know." He said and walked out of the elevator. She looked on, shocked, guilty and hurt. How did a normal, nice afternoon take this weird turn? Thought Ishita, and followed Raman to his cabin.

Originally posted by: DilMereSuntaNhi

Very nice Start ...I must say !

I am totally loving the characters, more than fictional they appear genuine.

Waiting for your next update.

Between its so nice to see Arshian/Sarunian aftr so many days ...

Saw ur Dp...DP name ...nd ofcourse even DP tag'IPKKND Title song'

I love them too ...I was head over heels in love with them.

Love,

Sruthi

Well well tension seems evident between the two.. From his side the reason is obvious but for her to be tight lipped before him now that sounds interesting.. Think so there is so much to explore...
Update soon

i loved this part...

Thanks a lot :)