Ishita
Ishita spent the hours between midday and 8.00pm in a storm of conflicting emotions.

He had said he loved her.  But how could he have meant it, when he was with another woman the night before?

But his eyes, Ishita, his eyes, they spoke of love, they were sincere.
No, sincerity wasn't part of his arsenal. She couldn't believe him.
But the way he made you feel, remember how safe you had felt in his arms?
And what about Abhi, Ishita? What about your promise to appa? Are you prepared to break your parents heart?

But I love him. I love him. I love him.

Lunch at Abhi's sisters house had been a nightmare.

Ishita remembered Alka, was pleased to see her, but she felt like an imposter being invited into a happy family. What business had she here, when her heart was with another? ( But remember that woman Ishita, and remember your promise to appa, her mind told her heart).

She had finally managed to get Abhi to drop her home by pleading a headache, but had then been drawn into a discussion by her amma on possible wedding dates, venues and outfits.

"Amma" she had finally said, after yet another photo of a Kanjeevaram sari design was shoved in front of her. "I'm not engaged yet. We don't have to do this now. Please."

"What do you mean Ishita?" her amma had grabbed her arm, her voice rising. "You promised appa, this morning."

"Haan, amma, but please, there's a lot of time yet. Please. Abhi hasnt even proposed again. I havent accepted"

"But he will Ishu" her amma had continued, tears welling in her eyes. "You can't change your mind. You promised appa this morning, you promised"

"Yes amma" she said with a heavy heart. " I remember. I promised."

She had then escaped to her room by claiming she had a migraine coming on, and thankfully, her amma had not pursued her.

As she wandered restlessly around her room, wondering how to resolve the dilemmas that the evening would bring, she thought again of him, and what had happened between them earlier.

She could still feel the taste of his lips on hers, still see the look in his eyes as he had sucked her finger, still feel the strength of his arms around her. As he had pulled her to him.

What was he doing now? Was he thinking of her? What would he say to her tonight? And how, just how was she to respond?

Jhuki Jhuki si nazar bekaraar hai ke naheen
dabaa dabaa saa sahee dil mein pyaar hai ke naheen

tu apne dil ki jawaan dhadkanon ko gin ke bataa
meri tarah teraa dil bekaraar hai ki naheen
wo pal ke jis mein mohabbat jawaan hotee hain
us ek pal kaa tujhe intazar hai ki naheen

teri umeed pe thukaraa rahaa hoon duniya ko
tujhe bhee apne pe ye aitbaar hain ke naheen

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Raman

The reason for Ishita's confusion  stood in his room just metres away from where she was.

He could still feel the lingering taste of her lips on his, still feel the softness of her skin under his hands, still see the hurt and confusion in her eyes?

"Well, what did you expect Raman beta" he asked himself. "You told her you didn't believe in love, you were all over Nina in front of her yesterday, how is she to believe your sudden proclamation of love is true?"

But she knows, his heart told him. She knows you love her. She knew in New Zealand. She knows now. She knew before you did yourself.

But he had hurt her, he knew that.

He had meant to hurt her and he had succeeded. Had hurt her enough that she had given her appa a promise to marry that Abhi.

Raman's eyes clouded over with anger at the very thought of Abhi.

He had known that he was a possessive man, but the depth of his jealousy scared him. This jealousy, this madness, this was something different.

He had wanted to snatch those damned roses out of Abhis hands, had wanted to wipe the smirk off his face, had wanted to claim HIS Ishita right in front of his smiling rival. He wanted to brand her, to...

"Raman" a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

It was his father.

"Raman, yeh kya hai puttar? Ruhi ko baahar jaane se mana kyon kiya hai? Kya ho raha hai?"
(What is this son? Why have you stopped Ruhi from going out?)

"Papa" Raman took a deep breath. "Shayad mein overreact kar gaya, lekin mujhe aap sab ko kuch batana hai"
(Papa, maybe I overreacted, but there's something I need to tell you all)

Ten minutes later

"Nahi Raman nahi" Toshi was beside herself with worry. "Shagun yeh kaise kar sakti hai? Ruhi sirf cheh maheene ki thi, jab Shagun usse bilakta hua chod gayi thi. Toh phir ki hak se woh ab Ruhi ki custody ke dawa karti hai. Aur ab kyun puttar?"
(No, Raman, no, how can Shagun do this? Ruhi was only 6 months old when Shagun abandoned her. What right does she have to claim custody now?And why now son?)

"Mumma, yeh sab uss madrasi ke waje se ho raha hai. Yeh dekho, yeh petition mein wahi likha hua hai joh CEO interview mein Ishita ne kaha. Ki Bhai sharaab peete hai, Ruhi ka khayal nahi rakhte, uski life yahan stable nahi hai. Aur Shagun usko stable life de sakti hai." Simi was quick to pipe in.
(Mumma, this is all because of those madrassis. The petition repeats everything that she said in the CEO interview. That Raman drinks too much, doesn't look after Ruhi properly, that Ruhi's life is not stable here. And that Shagun can give her a stable life.)

"Simmi" Raman said sharply. "This has nothing to do with Ishita, so don't blame her for this. Yeh sab is liye ho raha hai kyunki mein ne Ashok ko business mein defeat kiya hai. Usko woh Mehta contract chahiye tha, aur Ashok ko haarne ki aadat nahi hai"
(This is all happening because I defeated Ashok in business. He wanted the Mehta contract and he is not used to losing)

"Phir bhi Raman" Toshi piped up. "Shagun ko bahana hi nahi milta na, agar woh ladki TV par ja kar itna hungama nahi karti. Aur Raman, mein tumse kab se keh rahi hoon, tu phir se shaadi kar le. Ruhi ke liye ek Ma laade. Lekin tum ne hamari ek nahi suni. Aur ab Ruhi"
(But Raman, Shagun wouldn't have gotten an excuse if that girl hadn't created that drama on TV. And Raman, we've been asking you for so long to get married, to give Ruhi a mother, but you haven't listened. And now Ruhi...,")

"Ma, please don't worry" Raman put his hands reassuringly on his mothers shoulders. "Mein sab kuch sambhaal loonga. Shagun Ruhi ko hum se dur nahi lekar jayegi. I promise"
(I'll take care of everything. Shagun will not take Ruhi away from us. I promise)

"And Ruhi will have a mother", he thought to himself, walking away from his anxious family. "My madrassan will be the mother Ruhi has never had. Now if only I can convince her to accept Ruhi's papa. If only I can convince her of my love"

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7.45 pm - Ishita

"Lekin Ishita, aaj toh tum thi clinic mein. Phir kyun jaana padega?"
(But Ishita you were at the clinic today. Why do you have to go back?")

"Sorry amma " Ishita cursed herself for lying.

Whatever anyone said though, she knew she had to see Raman, had to hear him out. Her nervousness and anxiety had been building all afternoon, and she could not wait much longer.

"It's an emergency amma" she continued nervously. "I'll be back soon"

"Peri amma, Ishu akka often has emergencies. Let her go" Mihika chimed up and Ishita looked at her gratefully, then in dawning horror as Mihika continued "I'll go with her"

"No, Miku, no" she said loudly. "It might take a while. I'll be fine"

"But akka, I often go with you"

"I know Miku, but not today. Woh, Reena will be there and it might be late, I'll be fine" And she grabbed her keys and ran out, before anyone could ask any further questions.

The rain that had been threatening all day had finally started to pour, making driving slow, and it was twenty minutes past eight by the time she reached the turn off to her clinic.

Her heart had been pounding throughout the journey, her head spinning at the thought of what lay ahead of her.

The rain had made visibility low, and she had had to concentrate on the road, ignoring her heart and her ringing telephone.

"Probably Miku", she thought. "Or amma, worried about me in this rain. Well, I'll just have to call them back."

She knew her life was going to change irrevocably tonight, but what direction it was going to take was something she still wasn't sure of.

********************************************************************************************************
8. 15 pm - Raman

Raman drummed his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel of his car.

The rain was pouring now and its roar and the pitch darkness was punctuated only by the feeble lights created by man, and the awesome lightning flashes generated by nature. Thunder roared in the sky, but that thunder was no match for the blood that roared in his ears, as he struggled to compose himself.

He had been parked outside the deserted Batra clinic since 7.45 pm.

He had not wanted to take any chances tonight - of being late, of angering her further, of ruining his chances of bringing to realisation the something beautiful he knew existed between them.

So he had arrived here early, beating the rain, but he realised that she must be out there on the roads, trying to manoeuvre through the dense darkness, the mad traffic and the now almost wall like non stop rain, and his heart leapt into his mouth.

She was a terrible driver - wasn't the accident in New Zealand proof enough of that? And apart from her driving skills, there was also the condition of her car, which seemed to stop working at every conceivable opportunity.

He remembered their trip to the mall with Ruhi when they had both had to push the damned thing. What if it had stopped now? In this weather at this time? Or worse, what if...

He could not finish the thought and pulling out his phone, scrolled to locate her number.

'Ruhi's Dentist' was the moniker under which her number was stored. Well, he needed to change that now, he mused as the phone began ringing.

"Pick up my darling" he urged in vain as the phone rang out. He dialled again, feverishly, but the phone rang out again.

Just then, he saw the headlights of an approaching car. The lights dimmed as the car came to a halt and Raman's panic subsided.

It had to be her.

But why the hell was she so late, he fumed as he got out of his car and, unheedful of the pouring rain, strode towards his destiny.

Aao mil jaaye ham sugandh aur suman ki tarha
Ek ho jaaye chalo jaan aur badan ki tarha

Dil ke mandir mein saja rakhi hai murat teri
Mere jeene ki to surat hai ye surat teri
Raat din saath rahe seene mein dhadhkan ki tarha

Aao mil jaaye...

Ek jeewan ki khushi tumne dee ik ik pal mein
Bhar diya saare jag ka pyaar mere aanchal mein
Pyaar ka ek bhi pal pyaara hai jeewan ki tarha
Aao mil jaaye...