Monday morning - 11.30 am
Raman Bhalla's office

"But Raman, in one week? And secretly? Is this the only way? Kya kahenge sab log?"
(what will everyone say?)

"Koi kuch nahi kahega kyun ki hum kisi ko bataenge nahi. That's what secret means, meri buddhu"
(Nobody will say anything because nobody will know anything. That's what secret means, my dumbo)

"Don't call me buddhu"

"Accha I'm sorry. You are my Ms Mensa. Come here let me tell you how sorry I am"

"No Raman, no, you've already wasted..."

The rest of Ishita's sentence was lost forever as Raman closed the gap she had enforced between them and jammed his lips on hers. She squirmed ineffectively against him for a few seconds, then gave in, throwing her arms around him and straining her body against his. He made a deep triumphant sound at her surrender, basking in the knowledge of the effect he had on her.

She had to admit, Ishita thought, she just couldn't get enough of him - his kisses, his caresses, the feel of his hard body against hers, the rasp of his stubble on her cheeks, her lips, the magic of his fingers as they stroked fires on her skin.

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

Sunday had been sheer misery after the ecstasy of Saturday.

He had grabbed a few desperate kisses when he had dropped her off to her car on Saturday, after his emotional proposal in Mihir's apartment.

"Meet me tomorrow, somehow" he had pleaded against her lips, his fingers making small concentric patterns on her neck and shoulders, not wanting to let her go.

"I'll try Raman" she had promised."I'll try"

He had followed her car in his to the Aakash Ganga Society, wanting desperately to take her with him, to steal a few more moments with her, but knowing that the risk of being seen together was just too great. And just before he had let her go, he had made her promise again that she would meet him on the morrow.

But there had just not been the opportunity.

Mihika had been standing on the balcony when she drove up, had observed Raman's car come in behind her.

"Where did he come from akka" she had demanded.

"Miku, how would I know?" Ishita had said, sending up a silent prayer in advance for all the lies she was about to tell.

"He was looking for you this morning, akka. He said he had a toothache. Was he your emergency, akka?"

"No, Miku. He came to the clinic at lunch time, when Abhi was there. But I didn't treat him tonight" Which was actually true, she told herself, to assuage her guilt. She hadn't treated him. She had just surrendered her heart and soul to him.

"Ok, akka" Mihika had relented. "I know you never lie. I'm just worried, he is such a big flirt and you are so bholi." ( You are so naive)

"Mihika" Ishita protested, crossing her fingers behind her back. "I have no idea what you are talking about. Aisa kuch nahi hai"  (There is nothing like that)

Still, Mihika had apparently decided to appoint herself as her sisters  guardian angel for the rest of the weekend. She had roped in Vandu akka and had announced a sisters shopping and movie outing. So Ishita had spent Sunday with her sisters, fielding numerous texts from her seemingly desperate beau.

"Kahan ho yaar?" (Where are you)

"Madrassan, come back home."

"Kaunsi mall? Itni der kyun?" ( Which mall? Why are you taking so long?)

"What do you mean I'm behaving like Ruhi?"

"Maardalo gi kya Madrassan?" ( Do you want to kill me my madrassan)

"Don't you miss me sweetheart?"

"Ok, don't come just now. Your mother and my mother are engaged in World War 3"

There was silence after that last text, which had Ishita mightily worried.

On her return home, she had discovered the reason for it. Amma had filled her in in great detail on her run in with Mrs Bhalla.

"Just think Ishita, that loud Punjabi woman was accusing you , you of destroying Ruhi's life. Woh kehti hai ki tumhare kaaran hi yeh custody case reopen hua. Because of the TV interview."
(She says the custody case was reopened because of you. Because of the TV interview)

Ishita was stricken. Was it true she wondered? Raman hadn't said anything to her, but was her televised attack on him the reason why Ruhi's future was now in jeopardy?She remembered guiltily the way she had called him out on his parenting, the way she had abused him. True, she had a good reason, but all that seemed like a lifetime away now, and she would never forgive herself if her actions caused any harm to the little girl she loved.

She had been unable to call Raman until Mihika fell asleep, and his reassuring texts in the meantime had failed to do the trick.

When she did finally get to speak to him for a hurried moment, he rubbished her concerns. "No Ishita, don't think that. You know how mummy gets. Sirf uski soch hai, aur kuch nahi. ( it's just her view,nothing else) Don't you worry. Everything will be fine"

Mihika had stirred and she had hurriedly cut the call, but her anxiety about the reason for the custody case, and her role in it, had led to a sleepless night.

She had yearned to see him, to feel his arms around her, to have him reassure her.

She had barely reached work the next morning when he had called her.

"Ishita, I've just met with my lawyer. I need to discuss something with you. I'm coming over"

"Raman, no" she had protested. "Anyone from home can show up here, aap yahan mat aao. Mein aati hoon aap ki office. I'm free for an hour from 11.00" (Don't come here. I'll come to your office)

She had waited nervously for the time to pass.

Despite his reassurances on the telephone the night before, she was still concerned that she was somehow responsible for Ruhi's custody being in jeopardy. She needed to talk it over with him, to know that her darling little Ruhi was not in trouble because of her.

Her 10.30 appointment over, she had rushed to his office. She had barely given her name to the receptionist on arrival before she was being ushered into his office.

He was sitting at his executive desk, tapping into a laptop, his well tailored black suit set off by a crisp white shirt and grey tie. The ego wall behind him was covered in photos and certificates, but Ishita's  attention was riveted by him, her heart racing at the sight of him.

He had stood up as she entered.

"Dr Iyer, come in please. Thank you Razia" he added to the receptionist, who left Ishita by the door with a graceful nod.

Raman walked to the door and locked it, his eyes on Ishita.He looked cool, but his heart was racing just like hers. She was wearing another of her salwar suits in his faviroute colour, blue, and her big brown eyes were looking anxiously at him from above those oh so kissable lips.

He flicked a finger under her chin, giving her a soft kiss on one cheek. "Good morning Dr Iyer" he drawled.

Ishita clutched anxiously at him "Raman, Ruhi?  I know you said it's not my fault, but I did say those things Raman. Your Mummyji is right, this is my fault. Raman, what will we do. Ruhi...hum Ruhi ko... "

"Shhh" he had said, taking her into his arms. "It's not your fault Ishita. Shagun would have found another excuse. And we won't lose Ruhi, I promise you."

He had placated her until she had finally calmed down. His reassuring touches had slowly changed into caresses, until, with a groan, he had captured her lips with his. "I missed you yesterday madrassan."

He had then proceeded to show her exactly how much he had missed her until Ishita had finally wrenched herself out of his arms.

"You said you met your lawyer Raman. What is it? Kya batana tha mujhe?" (what did you need to tell me?)

And that's when he had told her what he had planned.

He was applying for a special marriage licence. They would be able to marry in seven days from now. That would allow them to respond jointly to Shagun in the custody dispute. But until such time as they were able to secure Ruhi's custody, he did not want their marriage to be publicly announced.

Especially to their families.

He wanted to win the families over and not have their relationship turned into a battleground. And Ishita had been protesting that this would never work when he had shut her up with his lips once again.

*********************************************************************************************************
"Kahan kho gayi ho jaan?" He looked with satisfaction at her flushed cheeks and swollen lips, then stroked her cheeks gently with his thumb. (what are you thinking of, my love?)

Ishita shivered at his touch, then stepped away from him. She became incapable of rational thought when he touched her, and right now, she needed to think. And to talk.

"Mein soch rahi thi. Raman, won't it be better to tell everyone, then they can all help us with the custody case? Ruhi sab ki jaan hai, we should do this together."
(I was thinking Raman, won't it be better to tell everyone, then they can all help us with the custody case. Ruhi is everyone's darling, we should do this together)

Raman stroked his chin thoughtfully as he looked at her.

He knew she was nervous, anxious about the secrecy, unhappy with the deceit. But he could not risk losing either her or Ruhi. Their families, especially their mothers deep dislike of each other, Mihika's distrust of him, the entire CEO TV saga, the arrest - there were just too many issues to resolve.

He was scared that if her family found out, they would talk her out of marrying him. He was conscious of just how perfect a match Abhi was for her, and he was not going to take the chance of losing her. Not now. Not ever. He wasn't really concerned about losing Ruhi's custody - he knew Shagun well. She was not in the least interested in her daughter, this custody application was an arrow she had fired at Ashok's behest, to harass Raman. And Neel had explained to him this morning that Shagun did not really have a leg to stand on. She had deserted Ruhi, and her fathers drinking and affairs did not take away from the fact that Ruhi had a loving home and was well cared for.

"Shhh, sweetheart, listen to me" He gently took her hand and led her to the sofa at the South corner of the office.

"How can we do this together with the family Ishita? They will be helping - Neel is meeting with my family and the neighbours today. He will start taking Affidavits from them, to file with our Response to Shaguns Petition. But if we tell them about us now, it will just complicate things. Mummyji is very angry with you , and your parents, well, you told me they are determined to marry you off to Abhi. I don't want our news to take the focus off Ruhi right now. Baad mein bata denge, phir thoda tension hoga, lekin maan jayenge in the end. (We will tell them later, there will be a bit of tension, but they will agree in the end) And Ishita, during this time, while the custody case is pending, you and I need to find a way to let our families know what we already do, that we are perfect for each other. We need time for our families to accept us Ishita, and time is what we don't have as far as Ruhi's  case is concerned."

"But Raman, how will we fight this case, you and me? How will we meet? I can't even call you from home, Mihika is always with me. Kaise hoga yeh sab? ( How will we manage?)

"Don't worry yaar, sab ho jayega. Mujhe Raavan kehti ho na, toh phir Raavan ke dus sar hote hai na, dimag bhi utna hi hai" (You call me Raavan, don't you? Well, Raavan had 10 heads, so I must have the brains to match that, right?)

"Acha, itna ghamand hai apne dimag par? Bataiye, kya planning hai aap ki?" She smiled up at him and he dropped a quick kiss on her forehead, drawing her into his embrace. (Okay, you think you are so smart, so tell me what your plan is)

"For now, I want you to get your birth certificate to Neel, he needs to lodge it for the marriage licence. He will meet with you later in the week to get some details from you for the Petition Response. Apart from that, just think of some really good excuses to give at home, kyunki mei toh tumhe mille bina rahoonga nahi. Aur phir tumhe Ruhi ko bhi to explain karna hai na" ( Apart from that, just think of some really good excuses to give at home, because I am not going to stop meeting you. And then, you have to explain the entire situation to Ruhi)

Ishita's eyes softened instantly at the mention of Ruhi. She pulled out of his arms and looked anxiously at him.

"Hum Ruhi ko bataenge, Raman?" (Will we tell Ruhi now, Raman?)

"Haan, Ruhi ko toh batana hoga, us ki permission ke bina tum uski mumma kaise banogi?" (Of course, we have to tell Ruhi, how can you become her mumma without her permission?)

"Mein ...Ruhi ki mumma..." (Me... Ruhi's mumma) Her eyes filled with happy tears and he pulled her back into his embrace.

"Ruhi ki mumma" he repeated, showering her face with soft kisses. "Hamari beti ki mumma" (Ruhi's mumma. Our daughters mumma)

Tere mere sapne ab ek rang hai
Jahan bhi le jaye rahe hum sung hai

Mere tere dil ka Tay tha ek din milna
Jaise bahar aane par tay hai phool ka khilna
O mere jiwan saathi

Tere dukh ab mere, mere sukh ab tere
Tere yeh doh naina Chand aur Suraj mere
O mere jiwan saathi

Lakh mana le duniya, saath na yeh chutega
Aake mere haathon mein, haath na yeh chutega
O mere jiwan saathi