Tribulations of Love- 02/08/2015 NEW Chapter 21 page 25

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Chapter 18:

Ishita's eyes closed as she tasted him and felt the warmth and strength he generated around her. His kiss! It had always felt so real, passionate and full of love. Even though Ishita's mind was back to reality, she wasn't pulling away from him. His kiss had always had a calming...soothing effect on her.

He broke the kiss momentarily, keeping his mouth close to hers." Why do you always run away from me Ishita?" He whispered."How easily have you said that it is over. Don't I mean anything to you?"

His last question angered her and Ishita pulled away as she threw her fists brutally against his chest." You don't mean anything to me? Is that why I gave you all of myself? Now I am ruined! You would never have any place in your heart for me. You know why? Because Shagun never left it."

"No! There is only you..." He whispered but was cut in before he would say anything further.

"Really?" She sneered. "Is that why you were so keen to marry me and take me to Australia? So that you could flaunt me in front of her in the hope that she would be jealous! Do you know when does one do such thing? When that other person still matters in your life!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Raman stared, flummoxed but then...he understood. It was Shagun's cheap trick.

"That woman lied to you. She manipulated you like she does with everybody else. Do you know what she did? She sent me a notice- Ruhi's custody or one third of my property! She is confident she will win Ruhi because she is settling down and i told her lawyer that I would personally go to Australia with my wife and daughter to throw that money in her face."

Ishita looked at him with horror. Her anger was subsiding, giving way to the realization that she may have been wrong...

"But fact is you will never change. You will always hide things from me and...you have used me." She said stubbornly, unconvincingly, trying hard to get control over the situation...

Raman's patience finally snapped.

Gripping her wrists, he hissed,"I never used you Ishita! You honestly think that?"

Ishita looked away, her eyes stinging, only to be yanked back.

"Look at me when I talk to you." He roared."I never used you. I can never use you. You are too important, too special." He looked at her and released her arm. "You make me want things that I've never wanted after Shagun.You've made me happier than I have ever been. Why do you think a man like me would keep chasing you or would even bother to explain and clear any misunderstanding between us. Raman Kumar Bhalla doesn't offer any explanation to anybody in life but still I do it. With you! Why would I care Ishita when I am supposed to be ruthless, careless and uncommitted? WHY?"

"Why Raman? You tell me." Ishita asked in a soft voice as she stared at him. Raman's heart surge with anger and pain simultaneously.

"I came back to Delhi for Ruhi's custody case but I had no idea that I would meet you here. I was as shocked as you to see you in Delhi. I neither planned to use my daughter to lure you nor seduce you to get Ruhi back from Shagun. But seeing you and Ruhi together did make me dream...dream of a better future for my daughter...for myself."

"Raman, I..."

"I AM NOT YET DONE!"

Ishita stood and watched him, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. He was angry, very angry and...unstoppable.

"You never thought highly of me and it was legitimate after the way I reacted and treated you in the past but still I would expect that you would trust me now, after what we had been sharing lately, after I confessed my feelings to you but no! I was wrong! Things hadn't changed between us Ishita and would never. You would keep on jumping to conclusions, judge and condemn me without a fair trial."

"Raman, I am..."

He stopped her with a hand." I wasted years with a woman who never loved me, in the hope that things would be better after our daughter was born. Things only got worse. But now! I don't want to spend my life with someone who wouldn't trust me but would not mind trusting and giving more credit to a stranger and would throw the "I was being used and cheated" everytime such opportunity arises."

Their eyes clashed and Ishita felt her heart contracting with pain as he continued, " I don't need a marriage to prove anything. I love my daughter and I can take good care of her without a wife at my side. I can give all my property to that woman but Ruhi is living with me."

Raman closed in and took her by the hand, to drag her towards the front door and Ishita pulled back.

"Where are you taking me?"

"At my place where everything started, where I asked your parents for your hand, where they are waiting for us, where I will put an end to this emotional torture."

As soon as they stepped in the Bhalla's living room, all eyes were on them, grave and concern. Before Ishita could utter a single word to her parents, Raman was at their side, folding his hands before them.

"I am sorry Amma...Appa. I thought that I would be able to keep your daughter happy but.." He glanced at Ishita who had eyes brimming with tears before completing his sentence."Things didn't work out as we had expected. Why should she be dragged in my past and present mess and suffer along with me? Ishita deserved better. This wedding is not happening."

His words left everybody in the room shell shocked. Toshi Bhalla was about to open her mouth but she was immediately silenced by Raman. "This is a mutual decision maa and we will appreciate if you will all accept it. I am sorry again for this mess."

A pin drop silence was making the atmosphere claustrophobic before the sound of discreet steps running down the staircase was heard and everybody looked up. Ruhi ran down to Raman and Ishita and exclaimed,"Ishimaa is back!", as the two looked at her awkwardly.

"Where did you go Ishimaa? Papa was so worried for you. Was there an emergency at the clinic?" She was standing in front of Ishita and questioning her innocently.

Kneeling in front of the little girl. "Yes, an emergency at the clinic baby."

"But what about the engagement?"

Tears began to sting Ishita's eyes again and she could see from the corner of her eyes Raman turning his face away. Ishita's heart squeezed in pain. Both father and daughter had captivated her heart in such a way that she couldn't imagine living without them. She loved that grumpy man standing in front of her. She loved him despite all his faults, despite all her insecurities and fears regarding him and his past. She realized now that she might have overreacted. She had mistrusted him, had indeed jumped to conclusions and judged and condemned him. That was not fair. He too deserved better. She so wanted to make up to him but he was angry. He wouldn't even look at her. She could sense with his stiff posture and expressionless face that the man standing in front of her was the old, bitter Raman Kumar Bhalla whose temper would intimidate more than one but...

She was not among the lot fortunately. She had never been intimidated by him. In fact she had always, stubbornly, faced him and accepted all his challenges and that was what she would and should do. Wasn't she his "Jhansi Ki Rani", the queen with the sword-like tongue?

"Engagement? Well everybody is here right? We can have it done here only. In fact I was about to call you. Thank god you are still up ."

The little girl's eyes widened and squealed with delight."WHAT? Here?"

Ishita picked her up. The little was in her night dress and was all rosy and smelling of talcum powder. "Everybody is here. So why not?"

They all looked at Ishita, shocked and speechless and she smiled back and asked them to bring everything on the small round table in the middle of the living room. She noticed the look on Raman's face and turned to Ruhi instantly.

"Here is your papa's ring and I am sure your papa has mine in his pocket. Let's do it now. One more day left before I am legally your Ishimaa."

Ruhi jumped from her lap and rushed to get the cake which was on the table.

"Have you lost your mind?" Raman hissed to her, dragging Ishita to him.

"I have decided to listen to my heart so I am bound to lose my mind." Ishita looked at him with a smile lingering on her lips making Raman's temper rising.

"I would not allow you to play with my daughter's feelings." He muttered in between clenched teeth.

"I love Ruhi and would never dream of hurting her and...i love Ruhi's dad too."

"You are playing with fire Ishita."

"I know you wont let me get burnt."

"You are crazy! A Paagal Madrassa ! That's what you are!

"Woh toh mein houn. You see meri DNA gharab hain. Mere akal mere ghutnon mein hain toh obviously Paagal jaissi hi behave karoungi!

Ruhi came back, putting a stop to their banter again.

"Let's go papa and Ishimaa. It is already one o'clock in the morning." Raman nodded reluctantly and both followed the little girl.

"I am only doing this for Ruhi. I don't need you in my life and I mean it. Women are bad news and I shouldn't have forgotten my lesson but I don't want to break my daughter's heart. So this farce is only Ruhi ke liye. Got it." Raman hissed in Ishita's ear as he closed in to slip the ring around her finger.

"Got it! But I need YOU. So it is more than Ruhi ke liye for me." She whispered back as they stood close and she too slid the ring around his finger.

Two days later, Raman and Ishita were in court, ready to be legally married, with Mr Iyer and Mr Bhalla as their witnesses, the two men who had been the medium between the two families. Sitting beside each other, Ishita kept stealing glances at Raman, who looked handsome in his white crisp shirt and black pant but he would not look at her. It was only when he finally put his signature beside hers that he turned his face towards. He was lost in her eyes for a moment as she stared back lovingly at him. She was traditionally dressed in a beautiful white and red kanjivaram saree with her jasmine gajra adorning her long tresses. They stood up and put the garland around each other's neck, both holding each other's stares , challenging each other and waiting who would look away. She smiled at him and he gave her a brooding look.

Ishita smiled inwardly when he finally turned away instantly. It was evident in his eyes that it was a great day for him too though he was trying to mask his face with annoyance and indifference. She could see through him. She could see the love for her in those deep orbs but she equally knew that her husband was a tough nut to crack.

Him and his ego!

Ishita sighed and he looked at her, frowning, with a "have you lost it" look. She smiled at him and got only a grumpy face staring at her in return.

"Are you all planning to stay here all day?

God what a kharoos! Ishita murmured as she walked behind him to catch up with his steps. Within minutes he was out of the court, in his car and waiting to go home. She would have to tread very cautiously and planned her moves well to tame this angry lion! Hopefully she would! If she had managed to get him to confess his feelings for her, then surely he would melt and forgive her soon and then...she was Mrs Raman Kumar Bhalla now and would be sharing his bedroom too. An evil smile cropped up her lips.

"Man may have discovered fire, but women discovered how to play with it."

"Where were you whole night?" She asked as soon as he stepped in their bedroom.

"Why are you up so early? Is there some special MAHURATAM for today?" He taunted back.

"You haven't answered my question Raman," Ishita said with her chin up but soon found her heartbeat turning erratic as he closed in.

"Kyun? Did you spend the night waiting for me...imagining how it would be like if I made love to you again?

Ishita turned a deep red as his warm breath rushed over lips.

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Wow... that was amazing ...,my favorite among all I think...What a start to new thread...I loved it totally...Enjoyed it...

Starting was so dreamy☺️☺️☺️ and then angry bhalla...Ishitaa was really wrong...How can she believe that shaggy...But koi na she realised it and now mission to Manao angry Bhalla...