Vishwa adored the innocence of his Kanna and with tears brimming in his eyes, asked the house help to get Ishita ready for tonight whilst Ishita sat crossed arm, her anger knowing no limits.
He stepped out his house and requested his Driver Bhalla ji to take him to Bhalla House. Though this wasn't the first time Vishwa would be going to the Bhalla's house, Om was taken aback seeing the serious demeanour of Iyer Sahab. However, Vishwa's hand on his shoulder assured him there was nothing to worry about. The drive to Om's own house was silent but on their minds, both men had countless questions.
On the one hand where Om couldn't stop thinking why his elder brother like boss was so unusually quite today; Vishwa just prayed he would be successful in what he was setting out to do.
The men reached Bhalla House whilst Om requested Iyer Sahab to wait a while so that he could welcome him well but Vishwa insisted that he was no royalty who needed royal treatment. Earlier, whenever Vishwa would notify Om that he wished to visit his house for any festivity, Mr & Mrs Bhalla would get busy preparing good food, obviously non veg but hearing from Iyer Sahab's own mouth that they need not treat him as any special entity overwhelmed Om. Vishwa got out the car and walked into the Bhalla residence with Om in tow.
Om entered his house along with Vishwa and seeing Vishwa, Toshji rushed into the kitchen to prepare for snacks. Vishwa requested Om to stop Bhabhi ji as he'd come over to discuss something crucial. Om went to the kitchen and brought a bothered Toshiji back. Om and Toshi were growing more worried with time thus Toshi nudged Om to ask Iyer Sahab what was wrong
"Iyer Sahab kahin mujhse koi ghusthaaki toh nahi hogayi? Main maafi maangta hoon magar aap aise bhooke peth mat jaiyega! Toshi ji abhi aapke liye coffee bana deti hai ..."
("I wonder if I've committed a grave mistake Mr Iyer! I apologise but please don't leave on an empty stomach. Toshi ji will at least brew a cup of coffee for you ...")
Vishwa smiled at the duo "Arre nahi Bhalla Sahab. Aap bilkul ghalat samajh rahe hain. Mujhe koi narazegi nahi hai bulki aaj mein jis wajah se yahan aaya hoon woh wajah humaare sambandhon ko aur mazboot hi banayegi!"
("Oh no Mr Bhalla you are totally misunderstanding the whole situation. I've no qualms against you lot. In fact, the matter that I'll be discussing with you both will do nothing but strengthen our relationships even further!")
The Bhalla Duo looked at each other surprised at this revelation whilst Vishwa continued
"Aap jaantein hi hain ke Raman mere apne bete ki tarah hi hai. Khaalaa keh aap sab ne hamesha mujhe yahi ehsaas dilaya hai ke main, jo aap hi ki tarah ek aam aadmi hoon, koi bahut bada insaan hoon magar maine kabhi iss baat ka ghamund nahi kiya. Chand alfazon mein, main chahta hoon ke meri Ishu aur aapke Raman ki shaadi hojaiye!
Toshiji and Om's eyes widened in shock. They weren't able to register what they had just heard and were almost in a state of shock. Breaking their reverie, Vishwa spoke
"Raman ek bahut neik, suljha hua ladka hai jab ki meri Ishita bahut naadaan, mann maani khadne waali bachi. Mujhe yakeen hai ke jab Raman uski zindagi mein dastak dega, woh samajh jaayegi rishton ki ahmiyat, pyaar aur apnepan ki ahmiyat. (Turning to Toshiji) Bhabhi ji mujhe poora vishwaas hai ke aap Ishu ko bilkul apni betiyon ki tarah hi rakhein gi ..."
Toshi ji - "aap be fikar rahi yeh Iyer Sahab, hum Ishita Puttar ko khoob saara pyaar denge magar humme sabse pehle Raman Puttar se baat karni hai jee!"
There enters the hero wearing a white shirt, black pants, supporting a full beard. His milky white, soft skin was to die for. He was as hot as a charcoal grill; you would burn under his presence. Man, his looks were too die for magar kismat ... lower middle class se belong karta hai humaara hero aur issi ke chalte ladki pattana thoda mushkil hoga but Sher Puttar hai, haar nahi manega!
Distracted? ( I was haha) chalo back to the story
Vishwa got excited to see Raman entering the house and got up to greet him. Raman bent down and took Iyer Uncle's blessings but Vishwa pulled him into a hug which Raman happily reciprocated! He asked Vishwa to take a seat and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Meanwhile Vishwa's mind traced back to how Ishita wouldn't even get up from bed to fill a glass of water. His faith in Raman being the one for his daughter strengthened and putting his arm round Raman's shoulder spoke "Beta aaj main aapse milne aaya hoon" as Raman responded with a "Ji Uncle?"
Heaving a sigh of relief "Beta agar main aapse kuch mangoon toh aap mujhe do ge?"
Raman - "kahi yeh Uncle ..."
Vishwa - "Beta main aapko apne lecture se bore nahi karna chahta issiliye simple words mein kehta hoon ke aap mujhe Ishu ke liye pasand ho"
Raman - "humaara aur aapka koi match hi nahi hai Uncle. Aap ameer aur hum ... main toh dahr-dahr ki tokhrein khata hoon roz mehaz ek naukri ki talaash main! Ishita ke bade khwabon ko poora karne ka jazba mujhmein bhale hi hai magar meri utni taqat nahi ..."
Vishwa - "Main bhi kahi saal pehle iss daur se guzzar chuka hoon. Jaanta hoon Beta ke tumhe kaisa mehsoos ho raha hai ... khud pe yakeen rakho aur meri ek baat yaad rakhna jab shaadi ke bandhan mein band jaoge toh jazbe ke saath taaqat bhi khud be khud mil jayegi"
Raman pressed Vishwa's hand in assurance whilst he blessed the young chap and left to Iyer House, contended. Om went off to drop Vishwa who asked when they'd come over and promising for 9 tonight, Om dropped him off not before hugging each other, congratulatory messages exchanged.
Raman dropped himself in his bed his happiness knowing no bounds. He promised himself he would give so much love to Ishita that all their differences would just diminish.
[For readers who are wondering whether or not Raman has feelings for Ishita well he does. Having accompanied his father to the Iyer's he's seen Ishita and he finds her very cute whilst her antics are a treat to him. In his mind, he's coined the name Jhansi ki Rani for her! However, they don't interact much because Ishita is mostly in her dreamland and Raman thinks too low of himself to consider himself worthy of mingling with her.]
Vishwa entered Ishita's room to see his little girl all dressed up ... as a prospective bride and he just got so overwhelmed happy tears started flowing through his eyes. Ishita hugged her Appa but in her mind she was cooking ways to stop her alliance begin fixed with someone she didn't even know.
Appa happily welcomed the Bhalla's and sat them in the living room. Eager to see her daughter in law, Toshi ji requested her Samdhi ji to get Ishita downstairs soon, nudging Raman who's eyes were fixed on the staircase waiting to catch a glimpse of hers ASAP.
She descended from the stairs carrying a royal blue anarkali with embroidery below the neck, her hair neatly tied back in a puff and soft curls with matching royal blue earnings and maang teeka along with ring on her ring finger. Raman was left stunned at the beauty of future Biwi and uninhibited, he excused himself to help her down the stairs. She shrugged her shoulder at him and with her index finger directed him to follow her to the lawn. Her disregard didn't go unnoticed by the four people in the room but Raman passed an reassuring look to his parents and Vishwa making them hope he would find a way round to convince his lady love!
Ishita settled herself on a chair in the lawn and expecting Raman to meekly stand in front of her listening to what she had to say she told him to quickly get up from the chair as she saw him just about to be seated because she didn't consider him worthy of the furniture used in a rich household. Royally ignoring her he sat on the chair and spoke
"Jhansi ki Rani hi ho correct naam rakha hai maine!"
Rolling her eyes at him "Toh tum ho woh jaahil jisse Appa ne 'mere' liye choose kiya hai??"
"Oh madam izzat se! Hone waala patti hoon!"
"Izzat?" She burst out laughing "izzat unki ki jaati hai jo deserve karte hain!" She gave a "duh" expression "aur tum? Haha mere dreams ko afford karsakte ho. Jin cheezon ki khwahish hai mujhe, woh laake de sakte ho? I'm sure tum toh kabhi Delhi se bhi bahar nahi nikle hoge ... abroad jaana, travel karna toh durr ki baat hai!"
He was no less and unwillingly or willingly, she gave up to him (*wink wink*)
"Tum toh shayad kabhi apne ghar se bhi bahar nahi nikli. Jiss lifestyle ko jeeya hi nahi, jiska kabhi lutf hi nahi uthaya; usse jalti ho ... kaheen naa kaheen iss karvayat ki wajah tumhaara deprived lifestyle hai! Keh raha hoon tumse, shaadi karlo mujhse, life set hojayegi ..."
For a moment, she sat silent ... nothing to say Asking him to get up, she stormed back into the living room. Appa asked Ishita if she had agreed to the marriage and giving a faint smile, she nodded in a yes whilst Raman winked at her irking her and the next moment she regret falling in his trap.
He grinned ear to ear as she muttered "Ravan Kumar" under her breath which he very clearly heard
Music Corner
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
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