Raman closed the front door and leaned against it.

If there had been any tiny doubt left in his heart about his feelings for Ishita, they had been resolved the moment he had seen the custody petition with which he had just been served.

His very first thought when he saw what Shagun had done, her demand for Ruhi's custody, had been of Ishita  - he knew that he needed her counsel, her strength to see him through this.

He had resolved to tell her of his feelings when he woke this morning, but Shagun's petition had added an urgency to his mission. He knew she loved Ruhi and he knew that she would be not just the best life partner, and the truest companion for him, but she would be a real mother for his Ruhi, that she would give them both the love they craved for.

He straightened up and covered the short distance to the Iyer apartment, knocking assertively.

"Kya hai. Tumko kya chahiye?" 
(What is it? What do you want?)
Mrs Iyer stood at the door, glaring at him. She had been deeply hurt by her arrest due to Raman's kidnapping complaint, and had refused to speak civilly to any of the Bhallas since.

"I need to speak to Ishita"

"Why?" Mrs Iyer demanded.

Raman thought wildly for an excuse. He had somehow presumed SHE would answer the door and he would whisk her away for their talk, and had forgotten to factor in a suspicious and defensive mother into the equation.

"Tooth" he hit on the perfect excuse. "I have a toothache."

"Ishita is at her clinic" Mrs Iyer started to close the door, then put her head out to yell after his retreating back "But she won't want to treat you. Tum kahin aur jao. Pranth" The last word was said softly, but she meant it.
(You go somewhere else, idiot)

"Kaun tha Madhu?"  Mr Iyer asked as she stepped back inside.
(Who was it Madhu?)

"Woh Raman Bhalla. Ishita ka pooch raha tha. Kehta hai usko toothache hai."
(That Raman Bhalla was asking for Ishita. Says he has toothache)

Mihika had just come out of her room and stared at her aunt curiously.

She had been puzzled by her Ishu akka's tears, which she had tried to pass off as an eye irritation,  and her silence after they had seen Raman Bhalla outside the mall last night.

And now here he was.

Mihika wondered just what was going on. Maybe it was time to give a Mihir a call. She was damned if she would let that lothario Raman Bhalla hurt her akka.

**********************************************************************************************************
Raman shook his head wryly as he got into his car.

This was not going to be easy, he realised.

So many feelings had been hurt in the past few months. Ishita's mother hated him; his mother and Simi blamed Ishita for that CEO TV interview which she had interrupted; Mihika hated him for his disapproval of her relationship with Mihir, and Mihir's reliance on him; then there was Abhimanyu Raghav.

And in the midst of all of this, he needed to convince Ishita of his feelings, as well as fight Shagun from getting her claws on his daughter.

He manoeuvred his car down Delhi's busy roads, headed for Ishita's clinic. A song was playing on the radio, and he turned up the volume.

Jisse zindagi dhoond rahi hai
Kya yeh woh makaam mera hai

Yahan chain se bas rukh jaoon
Kyun dil yeh mujhe  kehta hai

Jasbaat naye se mile hai
Jaane kya asar yeh hua hai

Ek aas mili phir mujhko
Jo qubool kisi ne kiya hai

Kisi shayar ki ghazal
Jo de rooh ko sukoon ke pal
Koi mujh ko yun mila hai
Jaise Banjaare ko ghar

Naye mausam ki sehar
Ya sard mein dopaher
Koi mujh ko yun mila hai
Jaise Banjaare ko ghar

I am the Banjaara, the gypsy, he thought, smiling softly, and I've finally found my ghar, my home, and that home is in your arms Ishita.

It was just past twelve when he finally pulled up outside her clinic.

********************************************************************************************************
"Dr Iyer is still in surgery sir" the receptionist preened herself slightly as Raman turned on his charm, trying to get her to agree to let him see Ishita. "And then I know she has to go out at 12.30. Are you sure you don't want you get an appointment for Monday?"

"No, it's an emergency" Raman cradled his jaw and uttered a small ouch for effect.

He saw the receptionists eyes check out his well toned body in his snug black t-shirt and jeans, and gave her another little smile.

"I'll ask Dr Iyer sir, please take a seat" The girl fluttered her eyelashes and glided away inside.

Raman sat down on one of the chairs. He didn't have to wait long before she returned.

"Dr Iyer is just finishing off sir. She will have time for a quick consultation. Can you please fill out these forms."

Raman sat with the forms, giving an occasional smile to the receptionist, who was surreptitiously checking her make up in a mirror.

"Mr Bhalla, you here, what a surprise" That voice, familiar and unwanted, hit Raman like a ton of bricks.

"Mr Raghav" he said through gritted teeth as he stood up.

"Call me Abhi. What are you doing here?"

Abhimanyu Raghav was wearing a fawn coloured suit with a crisp white shirt.  He looked exactly what he was, a successful and confident businessman. And he held a bouquet of red roses in his hand.

"What do people come to the dentist for?" Raman retorted. "I have a toothache. And call me Raman" he added as an afterthought.

"Oh sorry Raman. That must be painful. You know..."

The impartation of  further wisdom from Abhi was interrupted as the surgery door opened and Ishita came out, shepherding a little boy and a voluble woman in front of her.

"He will be fine Mrs Singh" she was saying, patting the little boy on the head. "Just no solid food today and please call me if there is any pain or bleeding"

Ishita smiled and waved to the mother and son and then glanced up at the reception area.

"Now who wanted to see me Ree...?" she started, and then stopped abruptly as she noticed both Raman and Abhi.

Raman had stood open mouthed ever since she had entered.

She looked beautiful in a plain white salwar suit, set off by an indigo coloured dupatta. Her hair was tied back in a messy plait and small hoop earrings glistened at her ears. Even the severe blue surgical gown that she wore did nothing to detract from her looks.

He was not the only one affected, he noticed, and closed his mouth, trying to look nonchalant as Abhi moved towards her, a similarly dazed expression on his face.

"Flowers for a beautiful lady" he said expansively, handing Ishita the bouquet with a flourish.

"Abhi, thanks, I ..." Ishita looked towards the receptionist, ignoring Raman. "You said there was a patient?"

Raman had been seething the entire time that Raghav had been doing his rigmarole with the flowers. He moved forward now, trying to mask his anger with a smile, and failing miserably.

"Yes" he said. "I'm the patient. Can we go in?"

Ishita still wouldn't look at him.

"Reena " she addressed the receptionist. "Have you told Mr Bhalla I don't have much time. I have a lunch date with Mr Raghav"

"Yes Ishita ma'am, but he said it's an emergency"

"It's okay Ishu, I can wait" Abhi gave  her a winning smile.

"Great, now can we go in" Raman asked again.

Ishita gave him a withering glance, the fury in her eyes finding an answering reflection in his.

"Fine, come in Mr Bhalla. Abhi, I won't be long." And she walked down the corridor to her office without a backward glance.

"Good luck Raman" Abhi called as Raman followed Ishita down the hall.

"Yes, good luck Raman" Raman muttered to himself as he paused at the door to Ishita's office. Then taking a deep breath, he walked inside.

**********************************************************************************************************
Ishita was standing by her desk when he entered, her back to the door.

Raman closed the door and turned the key, locking them inside. The door had made a resounding sound as he closed it, but she still did not turn.

Raman stood watching her, her back held rigidly, but her nervousness belied by her hands which picked at the roses in the bouquet she still held, crushing and shredding the petals.

"Ishita" he said softly, moving closer to her.

She did not respond, only her hands continued with their nervous motion, picking, shredding, crushing, the red petals staining her fingers. He frowned as he watched her hands - that wasn't colour from the roses, that was blood. One of those damned rose stems must have had a thorn on it.

He grabbed her hands and wrenched the bouquet from her, throwing it on the ground. Then in one fluid movement, he brought her hands up to his face, locating the finger with the thorn prick, putting it in his mouth and sucking gently. His other hand continued to hold hers captive as he entwined his fingers with hers.

She shuddered and shook her head in protest.

"Raman, no, no" she protested, jerking her finger and hand free, and covering her face with her hand.

"Ishita, listen to me" He put a hand on her shoulder, only to have her shrug it off instantly.

"Don't ask me to listen. Get her to listen to you" Her voice was trembling with anger.

"Who?' He asked, glad that she was at least talking to him.

"Who? So you've forgotten her already. Your friend from last night Raman. The girl in the black mini dress. Remember?"

"Ishita, it's not what you think..."

"So now you'll tell me what to think too?"

"Ishita, she's not important."

"No, I'm sure she's not. Just as I won't be important tomorrow. Well you know what Raman Bhalla, I'm not interested. Abhi is waiting for me, and you obviously don't have a toothache so just go."

She turned her back to him again, not wanting him to see the tears that were welling in her eyes.

The mention of the name Abhi brought back the anger that had deserted Raman when he walked into her office.
He grabbed her shoulders again and turned her around to face him.

"What about that Abhi, huh? You told me you were only going to meet him, and he's going around announcing that he's marrying you?"

"I haven't agreed to marry him yet, but I will when he asks me again. And it's none of your damn business Raman."

"It is my business, dammit." His voice rose, thick with passion and anger, as he pulled her to him, his hands holding her waist tightly. "It is my business when the woman I love tells me she is going to marry some horse faced idiot from Turkey."

She looked at him in confusion, her hands flying to cover her mouth. he couldnt mean it, he couldnt!!

"What...what did you say?" She whispered.

He dropped his hands from her waist and stepped away, staring at the wall. "Horse faced idiot" he murmured.

"No, what did you say before that?"

"You heard me Ishita" he flared again as he turned around. "I said I loved you. I love you. There, I said it again. I love you dammit."

He reached for her but she warded off his hands, shaking her head slowly, the reason for her tears last night crowding back into her mind.

"No Raman, I don't believe you. If you love me, then who was that woman you were with last night?

"Ishita, let me explain."

He managed to pull her into his arms this time, clamping down on her hands and grabbing her to him in a bear hug. She clung back for a moment, then wrestled free again.

"No Raman, I don't want to know. I don't have time for this. Abhi is waiting for me. I'm having lunch with his sister and her family. I can't keep them waiting."

"Damn that Abhi and his bloody family" he retorted, making toward the door. "I'll go and tell him now where he can shove..."

"No, Raman, no" Ishita stood before the door. "I ...I promised appa just this morning. Raman, don't do this. Please, please let me go."

He noticed the tears in her eyes and stopped. Those tears weakened him every time.

"Okay babe, okay, I'll let you go now, but on one condition"

"What" her voice was a whisper.

"You'll meet me later. This afternoon. Tonight.  But you'll meet me today."

"Raman, it's difficult today. Can't we talk later."

"No Ishita. Either you agree to meet me later or I'll go out there right now and tell that Romeo exactly..."

"Okay Raman" she interrupted wearily. "I'll come out after dinner. I'll tell appa and amma I have an emergency. I'll meet you outside here, outside the clinic at eight. I'll listen to you. I'll let you talk. But I have to marry Abhi. I promised appa. Now will you please just go"

"Ishita" he moved toward her again. "About Nina, about last night.."

"No Raman" she put up her hands again. "Not now"

"But you believe me, don't you?"

"Believe what Raman?"

She raised her eyes and looked straight into his. The love she had seen in New Zealand, confused, defiant, yet love, was still there. Only it wasnt confused any more. There was a gleam of confidence in his eyes, of certainty.

He captured her hands in his and took her into his arms, ignoring her protestations.

"Believe that I love you" he whispered, lowering his head to hers.

She stood perfectly still, her eyes closing, as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead, then dipped his lips to hers, kissing her pliant lips softly for a few seconds, before pulling away. She remained still, her emotions evident only in her accelerated breathing and flushed cheeks.

He was breathing heavily too, his heart thundering as he bit his lips, staring at her, wanting to kiss her senseless there and then. But he would have to wait. For tonight.

He put out his hand and softly caressed her quivering lips. A single tear drop fell down one blushing cheek and he slowly leaned in, catching the teardrop with his lips, replacing it on her cheek with another soft kiss, before slowly backing away.

"Till tonight, sweetheart" he whispered, his voice heavy with passion. Then he unlocked and opened the door, walking out of the office.

*********************************************************************************************************
Yeh dil tum bin kahi lagta nahi
Hum kya karein
Tasavur mein koi basta nahi
Hum kya karein
Tum hi kehdo ab aye jaa-ne-wafaa hum kya karein

Loote dil mein diya jalta nahi
Hum kya karein
Tum hi kehdo ab aye jaa-ne-wafaa hum kya karein

Kisi ke dil mein bas ke dil ko tadpana nahi acha
Nighaon ko jhalak de de ke chup jaana nahi acha
Umeedon ke khile gulshan ko jhalsana nahi acha
Humme tum bin koi jajta nahi hum kya karein

Bhuja do aag dil ki ya isse khul kar hawa de do
Jo iska mol de paaye usey apni wafaa de do
Tumhaare Dil mein kya hai bas humme itni pata de do
Ki ab tanha safar katta nahi hum kya karein
Tum hi kehdo ab aye jaa-ne-wafaa hum kya karein

Yeh dil tum brings kahin lagda nahi
Hum kya karre ......