Raman reached his college and soon went to his class to give the lecture.soon he start giving lecture but couldn't concentrate as his mind was still stuck at ishita. Everytime he close his eyes all he could see was her smiling face, her blushing, their talks and feeding each other. He was trying hard to concentrate but couldn't do finally he told the students to prepare for their upcoming exams as he can't teach as he is not feeling well. All nodded and got busy in their work, some were studying while few were just talking. On normal days, Raman would have scolded them but today he was in no mood to scold anyone, as he was feeling just too happy and occupied. He went out of the classroom and then reached the staff room. He informed the dean his colleagues that he is going home as he is not fine. All advised him to take few days off which he happily accepted. He wrote a leave application for three days and went home.
Throughout the way, he was just feeling so happy. He himself wasn't understanding why he is feeling so but the reality was, that he was really so happy. He looked at the time and thought -now she must be busy. I will talk her once I reach home. Thinking so he did a rickshaw to reach his house asap.
On the other hand, Ishita's condition was also not less. She was also busy in remembering their small moments, how he held her hand, tucked her hair and feed her. She closed her eyes feeling his touch again and then opened her eyes with a jerk and said-have u gone nuts, what u r thinking about him. Arey woh tere customer hai. For him, u r just a cook jisse woh business de rahen hai. Nothing much. Nahi aisa nahi hai, he is special very special. He is the one who treat me so sweetly, like I am very special. He is my friend who want me to stand with him in every path of life. He is not just my customer but more then that. She was saying to herself when she thought something and said again -but what u were thinking was wrong. U r just a friend to him while u were thinking to be more then that, u were remembering his touch. U shouldn't feel good by remembering his touch. He is a man and u r not allowed to feel good by his touch. U should control urself, she said and thought again, and then said again-but why should I control myself. Kya mujhe kisi ke baare mein kuch karne ka haq nahi. Hai bilkul hai, yes I can feel for him the way I want to and no-one can stop me. Aur waise bhi, main kya feel karti hoon, it's totally my choice. Unhe toh nahi force kar rahi naa to think about me. Yes yeh sahi hai, main joh chahun feel kar sakti hoon, Noone can stop me. And me too will not stop myself from feeling anything for him. She said to herself and decided not to stop herself from feeling anything from raman.
On the other hand, Raman reached home and was laying on the bed thinking about ishita and was smiling for no reason.
He saw his reflection in the mirror and said-have u gone crazy raman, pagalon ki tarah has raha hai. Bachchon ki tarah class bunk karke, bimaar hone ka bahana karke ghar par pada hai. Aakhir yeh ho kya raha hai mujhe. He said and ruffled his hair. He look at the phone and thought to call her, but stopped seeing the time thinking she must be busy.
Raman -abhi baat nahi kar sakta, she must be busy. Thinking so he got up to make tea to kill his time, but to his bad luck, milk was not there.he walked in the house unnecessarily and then said -why I am feeling so restless, kyun ishita se phir milne ka mann kar raha hai. Kya karun kya karun. He was thinking and finally said -chal jaata hoon, bahut hoga she will tell me not to visit her so frequently. But shayad naa bole, shayad woh bhi mera intezaar kar rahi ho. He thought and decided to go to her house .
On the other hand, ishita was sitting looking at the phone and said -kaha tha phone kar karke pareshan karunga. But he didnt even called us. Jhoothe kahin ke, jab phone nahi karna tha toh phone gift hi kyun diya. She was talking to herself when the phone rang. She got excited and picked the phone only to hear that it was from telephone company. She hung the call in anger.
Ishita -ho sakta hai busy ho. Waise bhi he is professor, teri tarah cook thodi naa hai, ki jab chahe free ho jaaye. Unka toh class chalta hoga. Ho sakta baad mein call kare. Let's make something for him. She thought and went to kitchen. She look at the things and decided to make dal makhni for him along with palak paneer, raiyta ,kulche and matar pulav.
She completed making food for him and was thinking how to send different food for him when a lady came and said -didi, woh joh savere aayen the, phir aayen hai. Lagta shikayat karne aaye hai. She said making ishita surprised. She peeked through the window and got happy seeing raman.
Ishita -unhe mere drawing room mein baithao. And don't send food on Raman bhalla's address,baki sabko khana bhej do, OK.
The lady nodded and she went out while ishita thought of something and ran to her room. She went to washroom and washed her face. She wiped her face and came out hurriedly. She look at her clothes and thought to change it. She opened her cupboard and took out a yellow suit. She changed her clothes, and combed her hair and let it fall open. She was going but stopped and took out her kajal. She thought for a while and then applied it. She applied the lightest shade of lipstick she had and put a small bindi. She checked herself in mirror and feeling satisfied by her look she was going out but again stopped and changed her earrings. Then she was going but again stopped and took a deep breathe.
Ishita -relax ishu, itna excited mat ho. She thought and finely opened the door and saw him sitting on the sofa reading something randomly to kill his time. She smiled seeing him and said making a composed face -arey raman ji, Aap.
Raman -yes, ghar par tha toh I thought, he was saying and turned to look at her and stop saying looking at her. He was just looking at her without blinking his eyes while her cheek start turning red feeling his gaze. Both were standing in same position for sometime, then he looked away feeling awkward and said -woh main free tha, ghar par tha, so I thought to come here. Socha thoda walk bhi ho jayega, aur tumse mil bhi lunga. I hope tumhe koi problem nahi. He was saying while she was just looking at him.
Seeing no response Raman said-ishita,
Ishita -hmm.
Raman-main kuch keh raha hoon.
Ishita -hmm. She said again all lost in him.
Seeing same response he said -tumhe koi problem toh nahi.
Ishita looked at him trying to register his words when he said bit louder-ishita, breaking her trance.
Ishita -no, I don't have any problem. Infact u can come here daily. She said and then bite her tongue.
Raman -roz toh nahi aa paaunga, but will come. Whenever I can.
Ishita -thanks, khana lagaun.
Raman -haan, waise bahut bhookh toh nahi hai. But lagaa sakti ho.
Ishita -if u want we can just talk for sometime, phir kha sakte hai.
Raman -it will be great. Let's talk.
Ishita -aap hi baat ki shuruwat kijiye. I don't know what to talk.
Raman nodded and said -tell me something about urself.
Ishita -main, mera naam ishita iyer. Bahut padhi likhi nahi hoon, toh apni zindagi chalane ke liye yeh dabba service khol li.
Raman -oh, that's great, I mean I can see, u r doing a great job. Tumhara bahut naam hai.
Ishita -thanks, Aap bataiye kuch apne baare mein.
Raman -main, mera naam raman bhalla hai, economics ka professor hoon. Double MA hoon aur PhD bhi ki hai.
Ishita -tab toh Aap bahut padhe likhe hai. Aapse baat karne se pehle bhi sochna hoga, kahin main buddhu naa lagun aapko.
Raman -nothing like that, we can talk on many things other then studies.
Ishita -like??
Raman -like aapki family,he said making her face fall.
Ishita looked at the clock and said -i think ab khana kha lena chahiye, it's lunch time.
Raman nodded realising that he asked something which he shouldn't ask.
Ishita went inside and brought the dishes one by one, she served food for him and said -khaiye.
Raman -tum nahi khaogi??
Ishita -i will eat afterwards, Aap kha lijiye. She said trying to look away when he hold her face and make her look at him.
Raman -see ishita, I understood that u don't want to talk to me about ur family, toh it's ok. I am not pressuring u, infact sorry if u felt bad, but please don't behave like this, I cant take ur ignorance. If u r not liking my presence, main chala jaata hoon. Saying so he get up and turned to go when he felt a tug on his wrist, he looked at her only to hear -don't go. Her eyes were moist.
Raman -hey why u r crying. If u don't want to talk about ur family, we will not talk. But please don't cry, he said wiping her tears while she was just looking at him.
Raman -i am really sorry if I hurt u, I really don't want to hear anything about ur family if it make u so sad, he was saying when she hugged him tight making him shocked.
Raman -ishita, r u OK??he asked touching her hair.
Ishita -can u please hold me tight for once. She said almost pleading. He couldn't deny her and hugged her tight while she closed her eyes feeling his warmth. Raman felt wetness on his shirt and tried to break the hug but she didn't let him do that. So Raman stopped trying, he was just caressing her back while she was sobbing silently pouring her pain, having someone's shoulder to cry after long. Both were standing in the same position for long when she said breaking the hug-i will surely tell u everything but I need some time.
Raman -its OK, I am ready to give u all time.
Ishita -thank u so much raman, bahut saalon baad aise sukoon se ro paayi hoon coz I know someone is here is wipe my tears. Thank u so much.
Raman -ur welcome but it's not needed, as friends r for this only. And secondly I really don't want to cry anymore. Tum haste hue achchi lagti ho rote hue nahi. He said and wiped her tears again.
Ishita -khana khaaye.
Raman nodded and ishita went to warm the food while raman was thinking what went wrong in her life that she is so sad.
Soon she brought food and served again.
Raman had it and said -u really make awesome food, slowly u r making me crazy. He said making her look at him.
Raman -i mean apne khane ka deewana. He said and she nodded and both start eating stealing glances of each other.
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Veer Hanuman
9