ISHRA SS ~Zehnaseeb~ Chapter 18 on Pg 94 - Page 15

Originally posted by: kimty1230

waiting eagerly for next

Originally posted by: kimty1230

thanks for the pm

Originally posted by: sukanksha

U gave chotu Sa update n wo bhi for rulaaoing us...
Bus or na karo sitam hehehe

Over dramatic???? Bear it :P

Update soon

Originally posted by: ...Forever...

Emotional updaye

He woke up with a heavy head and looked at the clock.

11 am... he rubbed his eyes as he called out for his male servant, Hamid.

"Hamid!" No response from the other side.

"Hamid!!" I called out for him again.

Again no response... he was getting impatient with every passing second.

"Hamid?!" I literally shouted in an annoyed tone.

A man in his early 30s appeared, "Jee Sahab!"

(Yes.. sir!)

"Kahan the bhai? Itni der se awaaz laga raha hu!" I said irritated.

(Where were you? I was calling you!)

"Phone aaya tha..usse sun raha tha!" Hamid replied.

(I was attending the call!)

He massaged his thudding temples, "Meri coffee kahan hai?"

(Where is my coffee?)

"Jee main abhi lata hu!" Hamid said.

(I'll just bring it..)

"Majaal hai koi kaam samay par ho iss ghar mein... abb mera muh kya dekh rahe ho? Jao jaake coffee lao!" I said infuriated to the core.

(No work is finished on time in this house... now what are you looking for? Go and bring my coffee!)

"Jee, main bhi lata hoon!" Hamid replied as he re-treated to kitchen while mumbling under his breath.

(Yes sir.. i'll just bring it !)

Sometime after, Hamid entered with a steaming hot cup of coffee. "Saab, aapki coffee!" he said.

(Sir.. you're coffee!)

Raman looked at him as he moved his head from the bedrest. "Hmm.. table pe rakh do!" I said as I got out the bed and sat on the my comfortable arm-chair. Hamid did as he was ordered to do so.

(Hmmm... keep it on the table..)

"Saab, main aapke office ke liye kapde press kar dun ?" Hamid asked.

(Sir, shall I iron your clothes for office?)

Office reminded him of Ishita and he wanted to stay away from her as much as possible.

"Nahi, uski koi zaroorat nahi hai !" I replied a bit lost.

(No, no need to do that!)

"Saab, kya hua aapko? aap pichhle chaar din se office nahi gaye hai.. aapka kitna pada hoga wahan!" Hamid said with creases of worry.

(Sir, are you alright? you have been on leave from office for around 4 days... you must be having loads of work pending!)

"Tumhe use kya? Mera kaam hai.. mujhe karna hoga main kar lunga.. nahi karna hoga nahi karunga! Tum apne kaam se kaam rakho !" I snapped back.

(You have nothing to do with that? Its my work.. i'll finish it when I will feel so! you better concentrate on your own work!)

"Jee!" He replied meekly as he left the room.

(Yes sir!)

Yes it has been 4 days since that night.. and this is what he has turned himself into. He was never a rude person but these days even minute things irritated him to great extent. He just couldn't concentrate on anything. Every time he tried doing some thing his mind somehow gets diverted to her thoughts and a never ending trail of unanswered questions! Whenever he closes his eyes he could picture her almond brown filled with unshed tears, tears which she was trying hard to hide !

Kyu baar baar mera dil uske liye gawahi de raha hai ? Kyu mujhe aisa lag raha hai ki kuch hai jo woh chhupa rahi hai ? Kyu itna sab kuch hone ke bawajood mera dil use galat manne ko tyaar nahi hai ? Kyu ?

(Why my heart is trying to justify her act? Is there something she is trying to hide from me? Why my heart is not ready to accept her wrong? Why?)

He closed his eyes as he regained his compose. He sipped through the coffee as another beautiful memory of theirs came running back to him.

Few weeks back,

Both of them were returning back from the work site. They were working tirelessly on the project for its success. That day was unusually busy for them.. Non-stop meetings with clients and then, site check that they couldn't spare themselves some time to have their lunch. The sun was about to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and red. Ishita was admiring the view outside the car window when the car suddenly came to a halt. She looked at Raman with questioning eyes.

"Chalo kuch khaa lete hai ! Subah se kuch nahi khaya !" I said while taking off my seatbelt.

(Come.. lets go and have something! Havent ate anything from morning!)

"Mujhe bhook nahi hai !" She said as I looked at her amazed but much to her embarrassment her stomach growled. She looked down.

(I'm not hungry!)

"I can hear that ! Par koi nahi mujhe bhook lagi hai.. So chalein ?" He said as he tried to hide his grin.

(I can hear that.. but I'm hungry.. I really need to eat something.. So shall we?)

She quietly stepped out of the car. Soon enough they were seated in the coffee shop. It was small and cozy place. Raman was looking through the menu while ishita was looking everywhere except him. He glanced at her.

Yeh ladki nahi manegi !

(This girl, I tell you!)

"Kaun si coffee logi ?" I asked her.

(Which coffee will you prefer?)

"Nahi main ice-cream lungi !" She replied finally.

(No.. i'll have ice-cream)

"Okay !" I called out for waiter. "One scoop, ahh flavor?"

"Chocolate"

"One scoop chocolate ice cream for the lady and i would like a cafe latte. Thank you !" He ordered.

A few minutes later, the waiter served them their respective order. Raman teared the sugar sachets as he stirred his coffee.

"So, you don't like coffee ?"

"Not really !"

"South Indian hoke bhi ?"

(but you're South Indian, aren't you?)

"Yeah... Yeh zaroori toh nahi ki sab South Indians ko coffee pasand ho!" she replied as she ate a spoonful of her ice-cream.

(yes..but its not necessary for every south indian to love coffee!)

"Woh toh hai, but its a bit strange. Mere bhi South Indian friends hai and they are like crazy abt coffee!" I said.

(Yes, that's true.. but its a bit strange.. I too have South Indian friends and they are like crazy abt coffee!)

She smiled, "I know, but mujhe nahi pasand. Aapko pasand hai?" she was getting comfortable now.

(I know..but I don't like it! It seems like you love coffee?)

"Bahout !" I said with smile. "In fact meri mom ko bilkul nahi pasand meri yeh aadat... she is always like itni coffee piyega toh toh issi ki tarah kala ho jayega!"

(A lot... in fact my mom is so fed up of my habit of coffee... she is always like if you'll drink this much coffee... you'll turn black like this!)

Ishita laughed, so did he! "That is so typical of moms.." She said.

"Yes it is ! BTW tumhari family mein kaun kaun hai?"

(Yes it is.. btw who all are there in your family?)

The smile suddenly disappeared, she looked down at her bowl. He felt as if he asked something wrong.

"It's okay if you don't wanna tell !" He said immediately.

"Arre nahi its not like that! Amma, appa, aur meri badi behen vandita! Woh sab Chennai mein hai.. I have not met them that's why.. Aap bataye aapki family mein kaun kaun hai?"

(Ohh no.. its not like that! Amma, appa and my elder sister Vandita.. everyone is in Chennai... I haven't met them from long time that's why... you tell, who all are there in your family?)

" ahh.. Small family like yours... Mom, dad and my younger sister, Simran."

She smiled but something was amiss.

Tears had clouded his vision. He placed the cup back on the table with sigh !

Nothing is helping!

**************

Ishita's POV

She finalized the document she was typing. After a re read she saved it and switched off her laptop as she gathered her belongings and began packing her things.

"All set for home?" Anamika asked.

"Yeah.!" I replied.

"Waise congratz madam, mujhe arpit ne bataya ki sir ko presentation bahout achhi lagi !" Anamika said.

(BTW congratz madam.. Arpit informed me that your presentation went really good, sir was appreciating it)

"Haan, achhi toh lagi.. abb i dont know if it was actually good or he was just motivating me." I said with a smile.

(Yes he liked it...now i dont know if it was actually good or he was just motivating me.)

Arpit who was standing near by too joined them. "Motivating?! Oh please.. it was brilliant!" He complimented her.

"Ahh.. flattery !" I said visibly embarrassed.

"Rehne de arpit.. she won't believe us... isse toh sirf Raman sir ki baat pe vishwas aayega!" Anamika added with a wink.

(Leave it Arpit.. she wont believe us..! She will only believe Raman sir..!)

Raman!!

She looked down with a sad smile. "Khair aisa kuch nahi hai ! I believe you guys.. thank you so much !" I replied.

(Well.. there is nothing like that! I believe you guys.. thank you so much!)

She stopped a taxi for herself and waved off Arpit and Anamika after settling down.

Raman aaj bhi office nahi aaye.. pata nahi kaise honge... ?

Aaj chaar din beet chuke uss baat ko.. Raman ne toh socha bhi nahi hoga ki main unki ummedo iss tarah kuchal dungi...! Kya kya socha hoga unhone.. ek naye safar ke khwab dekhe honge ... aur maine sab sapne todh diye..sab kuch khatam kar diya..!

Meri zindagi mein bahout raaz hai Raman, main jaisi dekhti hoon.. waisi hoon nahi..! Kaash main aapko yeh samjha pati !

(He didn't came today as well.. I hope he is fine!

It has been four days since that day.. Raman would not have thought in his wildest dream that I would trample his expectations like that... he must have dreamt of a new life... but I broke all his dreams.. I destroyed everything!

My life is full of mysteries Raman... I am not what I look like.. I wish I could make you understand that)

Ishita reached her home. She knocked the door. Mihika, her housemate opened the door and even before she could say something ishita replied, "Raman nahi ae aaj bhi !"

(Raman didn't come)

"Ishita tu yeh bahout galat kar rahi hai uske saath bhi aur apne saath bhi!" Mihika tried to make her understand.

(Ishita you're doing wrong... this is wrong with Raman as well as you..!)

"Shayd magar mereko isse behtar aur koi option nahi lag raha..!" I said while pouring myself a glass of water.

(Maybe.. but I cant look for a better option..)

" options bahout hai... bas thodi himmat chahiye.." mihika replied.

(There are many options.. all you need is a little bit strength..!)

"Aur mere andar himmat khatam ho chuki hai.. aur nahi lad sakti main.." i replied in a weak tone.

(And.. my strength is giving up now... I cant fight anymore!)

"Ishita.." she said a bit softer this time, " isse koi khush nahi rahega.. na tu aur na he Raman.. main abb bhi keh rahi hu.. usse sab sach bata de.. he will understand!"

(Ishita..no one can be happy with this... neither you nor Raman.. I am saying it again.. tell him the truth... he will understand!)

"No he won't, jab sab sach jaanne ke baad mere apne parents mujhe support nahi kiya toh main kyu kisi ajnabi se iski ummeed karun!" I tried to justify my position.

(No he wont... when my own parents didn't support me after knowing the whole truth.. how can I expect it from a stranger like him!)

"He is different.. and he will believe you.. have some faith on him." She said leaving ishita speechless.

*******

RAMAN'S POV

"Raman kaisa hai hamid?" A man in black asked.

(How is Raman now, Hamid?)

"Saab ko pata nahi kya ho gaya.. na sone ka koi samay hai..na jaagne ka.. office bhi nahi jate... chhoti chhoti baat pe chid jaate hai ..!" Hamid replied.

(God knows what have happened to sir... he is neither sleeping properly nor eating.. he has taken off from office as well.. !)

"Hai kahan woh?" Man asked.

(Where is he?)

"Tv room mein hai !" Hamid said.

(He is in TV room..)

"Thik hai.. tum ek kaam karo hum dono ke liye coffee banake lao.. usse main dekhta hoon" saying so he left for the tv room.

(Okay fine... do one thing.. get both of us some coffee while I take care of him!)

There he was sitting, although tv was on but his mind was totally somewhere else.

"Hello..!" The man called out. This brought him back from his thoughts. He looked around to find Mihir standing.

"Mihir ? Tu kab aaya ?" I asked, surprised by his sudden arrival.

(Mihir? When did you come?)

"Thodi der pehle.. jab tu daily soap dekh raha tha !" Mihir replied. Raman noticed that all a saas bahu drama was going on. He immediately switched it off.

(Just now... when you were watching daily soap)

"Nahi main toh kuch aur dekh raha tha.. phir kuch sochne laga aur pata he nahi chala kab show khatam ho gaya. Khair chhod, tu bata.. aaj yahan kaise ?" I tried to divert the topic.

(Ohh no.. I was watching something else.. then I started thinking something.. and I didn't realize when the show ended.. leave it.. you tell. how come here?)

"Tujh se milne aaya tha... office gaya tha toh pata chala ki tu chhutti pe hai.. issiliye ghar aa gaya. So, kaisa hai tu?"

(I came to meet you... from office I got to know that you are on leave that's why i'm here.. so , how are you?)

"Bilkul thik.."

(Very good!!)

"Really?"

"Of course!"

"Tu kya samjhta hai.. tu bahout intelligent hai aur hum sab bewakoof?" Mihir snorted in anger and Raman looked down hopelessly.

(What do you think of yourself.. that you're so intelligent and we all are stupids..?)

"Muh niche karke bethne se kuch nahi hoga jawab dena padega.. kya haal bana rakha hai apna ?" Mihir added.

(Nothing will happen if you'll just sit like that with head's down.. you have to answer me! What have you done to yourself?)

"Tu bata kya karun main? Bahout koshish karli..lekin nahi bhul paa raha main use!"

(You tell me, what should I do ? I am trying my best to forget her.. but I cant)

"Toh bhulana padega.. you have to accept it..anyhow!"

(But you have to forget it.. you have to accept it anyhow!)

"Kehna bahout aasaan hai..magar karna bahout mushkil.. i love her.. !"

(It is easy to say... but difficult to do ! I love her)

"But she doesn't give a damn abt that..!"

"I dont know.. main nahi accept kar paa raha iss baat ko.. main uski aansu se bhari aakhen nahi bhula paa raha!"

(I don't know... but I just cant accept it anyhow.. I just cant forget her tear filled eyes..)

"So what do you think? She loves you but still denying?" Mihir asked confused.

"I feel so!"

"But why would she do that ?" Mihir looked at Raman.

"I dont know!"

The silence prevailed for a while when mihir finally broke in, "dekh Raman, iss sab se koi fayada nahi milega.. tereko sirf aur taqleef pahuchegi..!"

(Look Raman, this is not going to do anything.. only you'll get more hurt!)

"Main jaanta hoon... but I really need answers to my questions.. i need some peace!"

(I know that.. but I really need answers to my questions.. i need some peace)

"Well.. uska sirf ek he tareeka hai.. go and ask her why she rejected you? Ask her for a strong reason.. !"

(Well.. there is only one way for that.. go and ask her why she rejected you? Ask her for a strong reason..!)

"Yes that is the only way!" Raman too agreed.

"Achha sun please shave karle.. tujhe dekh kar aisi feeling aa rahi jaise 12th fail student dekh kar aati hai !"

(Okay listen... please shave off this wild beard.. it feels as if you have failed in 12th boards)

"Very funny!"

"Chal coffee pite hai.."

(Come.. lets have our coffee)

Raman smiled as he could see some rays of hope shining his path once again.

Main aa raha hoon ishita..

(I'm coming Ishita)

********