Pic-OSthon #2: Part 2 of TS by pretty_h on Pg 48 - Page 24

He was a back bencher, notorious, managed to study only at the last minute for the exams, cheated during exams and didn't care much about passing or failing. She was the class monitor, righteous, hardworking, honest, academic and the teachers' favourite. Not just the teachers...the Bhallas also loved Ishita...err well not all the Bhallas...except for Raman and Simmi, all others adored her. Raman and Simmi faced immense heat at home because of Ishita as there was always alot of comparison with her goodness. Why can't you be like Ishita...she gets up at 5am daily to study...simmi, see how well mannered Ishita is, always smiling and she helps her mom in the evenings...and look at you...raman, why are you playing cricket all the time...look at Ishita, she is doing homework in her house...Ishita got her report card...yours must be out too..where is it? She was their living nightmare.

Romi and Rinky were much younger and saw a big sister in Ishita. She took math tuitions for them in the evenings, played with them and taught them to ride a bicycle. She kept a distance with Raman and Simmi as she knew how they hated her.

After her 10th board exams, Ishita moved to Chennai with her family as her father had a job transfer. They were in touch with the Bhallas for a year or two but lost contacts after that. It had been 6 months since they returned to Delhi after 15 years. Ishita wanted to get away from Subbu her fiance, who broke up with her to marry someone else.

Ishita had become a successful paediatric dentist and Raman a successful CEO who had returned from the US recently.

Mr.Iyer and Mr.Bhalla had a sweet shock when they bumped into one another at the park one morning. When they started chatting, they got to know what had happened in each other's house in the 15 years that were not in touch. Mr.Bhalla found out how Ishita's wedding got cancelled because of her medical condition. Mr.Iyer found out all about how Raman's marriage ended in divorce making him hate all women. And why not...his ex-wife was seeking custody of his 5 yr old daughter(whom she left at the age of 6 months for another guy). After a couple of months of meeting each other, the older friends opened the topic of getting Raman and Ishita married for their mutual benefit. They saw how Ishita and Ruhi bonded during their recent visits and felt that this would be good for all 3 of them. Everyone agreed instantly as though this was on their minds forever.

From saying "What? No way I'm getting married to that crazy person" , Ishita and Raman said "Ok papa/appa if that's what will make you happy, I will do it." Both their fathers went on a hunger strike to get them to agree and it worked.

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"Sirf Ruhi ke liye" they told each other sitting at a suburban coffee shop, making it clear that there would be nothing more between them.

Raman was the first to speak after 5 minutes of silence.

"Ok.Here are the rules.

"What?" she asked.

"Oh hello mister I'm not like that ok? I don't need a penny of your..."

"Shut up I'm not done yet" he scowled.

She gave him a frown as she folded her arms and turned her head away from him.

"What do you mean by your things?"

"A Doctor who cannot think...oh sorry I forgot that you are a dentist and not a doctor. Who knows tomorrow if you don't get any patients to use your hammer, you shouldn't end up brushing my teeth everyday. And that's what I mean by stay away from my things."

"Are you done or do you have anymore childish conditions like a 4 yr old?" she asked.

"That's all for the time being. Don't push it", he said faking a smile.

"Here's the money for my coffee...keep the change" she snapped thrusting the money on the table before storming out.

"Seriyana Paithiyam...thimiru pidichavan (absolutely mad...arrogant fellow)...murugan why are you making me do this? how can I marry someone like this?" she murmered to herself angrily.

A week later they were husband and wife. The custody hearing went really well and Ruhi's permanent custody was granted to them. They had a small celebration at home in the evening where everybody danced and ate sweets to their hearts content. Ruhi made Raman and Ishita feed each other some rasgollas. Ishita fed him first and then when he was about to he made sure he squeezed some sugar syrup onto her saree.

"My new kanchivaram...you did this on purpose...you!!" she said and quickly bit her tongue realizing they were not alone. "but it's ok, I'll go and clean it".

He gave her a notorious competitive smirk which she wanted to rip off but she knew it had to wait.

He walked into the room that night and found her taking her bedding to the couch where she slept every night. He pretended to look into a file and started whistling a tamil song tune,"enna ma kannu soukiyama...amam ma kannu soukiyam dhan". (all's well my love? oh yes my love all's well).

He had learnt this song from Mihika, Ishita's sister. Mihika was jumping with joy that her jiju was going to whistle at her sister and taught him with full excitement. Poor Mihika...little did she know that the mood setting was not even remotely romantic.

She turned and gave him a hard glare to which he whistled another tune "why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di?" (why do you have this murderous rage against me girl?"). She knew what to do next. She grabbed her bedding and went to sleep on the bed. "Oh hello get up...pagal madrassan, dracula...this is my bed.."he kept calling a few times but she closed her eyes tight leaving him no option but to go to the couch.

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Four months had passed since they were married. By now Ishita had become a Bhalla bahu adapting herself to all the customs and traditions of a punjabi household. She was very happy learning punjabi recipes from her mother-in-law and the good student that she was, she was always getting praises from her in-laws for trying. Romi and Rinky also supported and encouraged her completely. They loved the south-indian food that she made and ate the north-indian too without complaning. Raman and Simmi however kept ridiculing her as always, but now for different reasons.

While Simmi did it out of pure hatred, Raman did it to tease and irritate her as he liked to see her pouting her face and fighting with him. He made it a point to irritate her everyday so she could come out with a counter attack. He had no idea why doing this made him so happy. Is she not the same Madrassan whom he detested from the bottom of his heart? he wondered.

She more or less followed the 5 rules that he had set for her but he secretly wished that she broke those rules. She is Ruhi's Ishima, a mother who was so sincere and loving (than the real mother) and paid attention to her daughter's smallest of needs. But she didn't stop there. She did some sweet little things for him as well and even though he doubted it at the beginning, he was sure that it wasn't a facade put up just for their families to notice. No one knew that she was doing these little things and even he wouldn't have known, if he hadn't started paying attention.

He loved that she ironed his shirt and hanged his towel in the bathroom before he went in for his bath. He found it endearing that she told Ruhi some wonderful bedtime stories starring him as the hero. She reminded him to take his wallet, keys and phone before he left for office and if he left in a hurry, she would run down to the car parking with his wallet. She stayed up till he got back from work to make sure that his dinner was not cold. He noticed that on days when he left without having the breakfast that she made for him, she would look sulk and give him taane (taunts) at night which now seemed like sweet honey to his ears.

In his previous marriage he only gave but didn't receive much. Shagun never did these heartwarming things for him. The bitterness in his heart caused by Shagun had gone and he was willing to reciprocate some kindness to Ishita in return for all that she did for Ruhi, for him and his family.

Raman did not realize that he was already doing many things to make her feel happy. He criticized her in front of his parents and was happy hearing her rant at night. He always accompanied her when she had late night emergencies at the hospital. He gifted her many sarees and jewellery either saying that she won't look like a CEO's wife in her terrible clothes or by telling her that he had bought clothes for his mom and simmi and had to buy one for her also. He was very affectionate to her parents, treating them like his own and teamed up with them to annoy her. He supported and stood up for her in front of Shagun and made sure that no one speaks ill of her.

One day when Ishita had made his favorite palak paneer, Ruhi said "wow ishima you are too good". Simmi made it a point out how bland it tastes and how it can never be close to her's or her mother's

"Simmi...enough! Can't you eat without making a fuss? Everyone else is eating quietly" Raman flared.

"Yes I'm seeing how people have changed bhai" She said and ran into her room. Ishita had tears in her eyes. She felt better only after he said "I spoke to Simmi and she ate a little so relax...crying doesn't suit your daayan (witch) image" he said making her smile. Just before switching off the lights he said "oh btw, palak paneer was good..a little more spice would have been good but I liked it". They wore a smile to sleep thinking if they would dream of each other again that night as they have been featuring in each other's dreams a lot lately.

A week later Raman and Ishita had gone for a dinner party. He wore a grey shirt and black tuxedo and looked very handsome in his clean shaven look. Ishita wore a pretty black chiffon saree with silver zardosi border and a black low back blouse. She wore her hair down and looked heavenly.They were having a good time talking to his business associates and their family. Ishita dropped her phone down and when she bent down to pick it up, she heard a ripping sound. She was in the middle of the party room and couldn't see what happened. Raman, who was chatting with a European client, had turned to glance at her like he always did to see if she seemed happy and comfortable. When he noticed that she looked shocked, he excused himself and rushed to her. He saw her moving her hands on her back so he quickly went behind her pulling her towards him taking steps backwards. Once they reached the end of the room he grabbed her by her hand and took her to the adjoining room which was empty. He locked the room and asked her to turn so he can see what happened. She was embarrassed and very shy but he kept one hand on her shoulder and with the other he lifted her chin up and said it's ok, it's just me, don't worry, mein aur nahi phadoonga" he said smiling. She turned and he saw that there was a cut in the middle of the back portion which made it rip into a big hole. He tried fixing it but couldn't. He saw and felt a portion of her bare soft skin and did not want to take his eyes and hands off. She squirmed as was feeling a tingling sensation when he touched. After a few failed attempts, he removed his tuxedo and made her wear it. He moved his hand to her back to pull her hair out of the tux and as he did this, his hands brushed against her long earrings and her neck stirring up emotions in both of them. He gulped down the saliva as he took his hand back slowly. She closed her eyes experiencing waves of happiness and felt a deep desire for this to continue.

A couple of lines from her favorite song played in her head.

Endhan nenjil neengadha thendral needhanaa

Yennam engum nee paadum thiruthiru thillaanaa

"Let's go home" he said in a husky voice pausing the song and bringing her back to reality. He was thrilled to notice her closed eyes and gentle smile as it told him that what he felt was not one sided. She wants this too so no more denying and delaying he thought to himself. He decided that he would make the first move.

After returning home, she was looking for her home slippers and that's when Ishita noticed a small blade under her couch and by the side were a couple of zardosi pieces. She realized that someone caused this wardrobe malfunction on purpose and knew exactly who it was. The next morning, when Simmi seemed a little extra curious about the party and kept mentioning how pretty her saree looked, Ishita asked her in a normal tone if she had tampered with the blouse. Simmi denied it completely and started fighting with her in a loud voice for the accusation and involved her mother as well. Toshiji supported Simmi and got upset with Ishita for imagining things and blaming her daughter. Raman came home just then and scolded Ishita for her baseless accusations and warned her to stay in her limits. She tried to explain what happened but he was in no mood to listen. She went into her room crying while he showed his frustration by breaking a glass.

Raman stayed in the living room and didn't go inside to change his clothes. He finished his work on his laptop and got up to go to his room to sleep. He decided to check on Simmi and talk to her before he went to sleep. As he was about to enter her room he heard Simmi on the phone with her husband Param who worked in Dubai. He heard her tell him what she did and thank him as his plan worked and she was able to achieve both her goals - one to embarrass Ishita in public and the other to turn her brother against Ishita. "She must have made a laughing stock of herself" she said laughing happily. He wanted to blast her right then but didn't want to wake up the rest of the house. Moreover there was one more person who he needed to check on. What would he say to her? Will she listen? Did he listen to her when she tried explaining? Jhansi ki Rani will be in badla(revenge) mode now, he thought and proceeded into his room. The light was off and she was lying on the couch, still crying. He switched on the light to see her face clearly, but the moment he did that, Ishita wiped her tears and turned to the other side.

"Ishita sunoh (listen)...ish...cough cough" he pretended to cough continously. She sprang out of bed to run to and return from the kitchen with a glass of water. He drank the water and gave her the glass back coughing just once more to answer her when she asked if he was ok. When she returned he said "I'm sorry will u tell me what happened earlier?"

"what's the use you won't listen fully or believe what I'm saying...I'm only Ruhi's Ishima and I cannot expect anything more than that from you. Thank you for reminding me".

"I heard Simmi confess to what she did" he said in a low voice after moving close to her.

"You did?" She asked softly. "Did she admit everything to you?"

"No I heard her tell her husband on the phone, and btw he gave her this idea so she can have her revenge"

"But what did I do to her for her to do this Raman?"

"Nothing. You didn't, but I did. I yelled at her the other day and she is troubling you for my fault...but this is not done. She cannot play with a girl's dignity and embarrass her in public. I am ashamed to call her my sister. See how I deal with her tomorrow"

"No Raman"

"Ishita you better stay out of this...don't tell me what to do."

"Raman aapko Ruhi ki kasam (promise on Ruhi) you won't tell her anything."

"But people are blaming you when the mistake is clearly hers. Even my mom believes her now and might give you a tough time"

"Mummy-ji has a big heart. I know she can't stay angry with me for long. But as for Simmi" she said sighing out loud and continued

"Give it some time and stay angry and irritated with me in front of her till then".

"What if I don't want to pretend anymore?" he asked looking very innocent. All his anger had melted away.

"Then she will get convinced that I've done some black magic on you" she said naughtily.

"Have you?" he asked giving her a teasing look.

"Well...All that works on humans but you are Raavan Kumar".

Hearing that name gave him a sudden confidence. He closed the door, locked it and returned to stand close to her.

"Acha? Toh Jhansi ki Rani...batao mujhe(tell me)" he said putting his hands on her shoulder. "What works on Raavan Kumar?" (Really? So tell me jhansi ki rani)

"Kya kar rahe ho Raman aur darwaza kyun bandh kiya?"she said lowering her gaze.(What are you doing Raman and why did you lock the door?)

"Kyun? Ruhi ki Ishima ko Raavan ki Paagal Madrassan bana raha hoon, any problem? (I'm turning Ruhi's Ishima into Raavan's crazy madrassan)

"Khadoos Raavan" she corrected. (grumpy raavan)

"Itna boora hoon?" he asked, his hands now cupping her face and his eyes focussing on her lips. (am i that bad?)

"Hmm.." she said nodding her supported head weakly.

He waited for her to lift her eyes to meet his own and when she did, the 5 rules he had set went flying out of the window. He smiled and leaned close placing his lips on hers, feeling a rush of sweet emotions that shook their bodies and minds. The night of never ending passion had just begun and it was going to be one that they would remember for a lifetime.

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