Monday 14 September 2014
Batra Dental Clinic
12 noon

Ishita took off her surgical gown and sat back in her chair, heaving a sigh of relief.

It was so good to be back at work, away from home...from Mihika.

**********************************************
*Flashback Starts*

After she had dragged Mihika away from the Bhalla apartment on Friday night, it had taken Ishita all of her powers of persuasion and not a little emotional blackmail to get Mihika to agree to hold her tongue about Raman and Ishita's relationship.

Mihika had been furious with her and was convinced that Ishita had made a terrible mistake.

"How could you akka ? " she had shouted, over and over at Ishita. "He's not a good man. He drinks. He has affairs. He manipulates people. He tried to split Mihir from me. You know that akka. He's just using you. He knows you love Ruhi so he used you to get her custody. How could you be so stupid akka?"

Ishita had tried to reason, but then had decided to concentrate her energies on getting Mihika to hold her tongue until Raman was back. She had been able to do it by convincing Mihika that she, Ishita, would have to bear the brunt of everyone's anger if the truth came out in Raman's absence. Mihika, who fervently believed that her innocent akka had been bewitched and manipulated by the evil Raman Bhalla, had not wanted Raman to escape the wrath that the revelation of the marriage would bring on the couple, and so had agreed to stay quiet until he returned to Delhi.

"But you can't do this to Abhi, akka" she had persisted. "I won't tell anyone else, but if you don't intend to marry Abhi, then you must tell him now. Don't lead him on. It's not fair. And you've made a huge mistake akka. You've given up a wonderful decent man like Abhi for that ..that Raman Bhalla."

"Mihika, you don't know Raman. He's not like what you think. But ok, I won't argue with you. And as for Abhi, Mihika, I want to tell Abhi, I intended to tell him today anyway. I didn't set out to deceive him, and I'm sorry if I have hurt him, but everything happened so fast, it all spun out of control. I'll tell Abhi now. And the day Raman gets back, we will tell everyone else."

She had left the still smouldering Mihika in their apartment, and had gone downstairs again to speak to Abhi. She had found him with Bala, clutching a soft drink and looking pensive. He had readily stepped outside with her, and had taken the news bitterly.

"Abhi, we've been friends for a long time, so I am going to ask you for something" Ishita had stammered, guilt etched on her face. "I ...I can't marry you. I love someone else, I.. I belong to someone else. I'm sorry for not telling you earlier, but everything is so complicated. And Abhi...please, you know how much my parents want our marriage. I need to tell them myself, but this is not the right time. I can't give you any explanations. But please, don't tell anyone now. Just stay away and let me handle this. I am so very sorry for doing this, but I...I don't have a choice."

"It's Raman Bhalla, isn't it?" Abhi had said, bitterness creeping into his voice.

"Yes" Ishita had replied simply. She could hear the pain in his voice and she was ashamed of herself for having hurt him. She had never meant to, but it had happened nonetheless. And there was no point in lying to him now.

"So where is he now? " Abhi had countered. "Why isn't he here, why is he letting you do the dirty work?"

"Abhi" Ishita had replied quietly . "Raman had an emergency. He had to go to Mumbai. He has no idea that I'm telling you the truth today. If he knew, he would not have ... He wants to be here when we tell the family. That is why I am asking you not to say anything now to my amma and appa. Raman and I will tell them together, as soon as he returns."

There had been an awkward silence while Abhi had stared at Ishita.

"I thought you were sensible Ishita. I was prepared to marry you despite everything, despite knowing everything about Subbu, about your infertility. I was prepared to share my family, my position,everything with you, despite that. You would have been the mother of my children."

"I am a mother Abhi" she said quietly, her eyes stinging a little at his callous enumeration of her shortcomings, at the insinuation that he would have been doing her a favor if he married her. "I am Ruhi's mother. And Raman loves me, me, not what I can or can't give to him."

"Fine Ishita" he had finally. "I thought I knew you, but I obviously don't. The Ishita I knew wouldn't have done this, lied like this, tricked her parents like this. That man has changed you Ishita, but if that's what you want, then what can I say? I won't tell anyone, don't worry about that. I'm done here."

And with that parting shot, Abhi had walked out of Ishita's life.

*Flashback ends*

***************************************
The weekend had been dreary and had dragged on intermittently. Mihika had barely spoken two words to her, and Raman had been too busy to call much as well. He had sent her quick texts when he could, but there had been no time to seek or be given reassurance.

The only time they had spoken at any length was when he had texted to ask if Abhi had bothered her again and she had admitted to him that she had told Abhi about them. He had called her back, furious, not with her but with himself. "I should have been there Ishita" he had said bitterly. " You shouldn't have to face this alone." She had reassured him that she was fine, that they would tell the others as soon as he returned.

The only bright spot in the weekend had been her visits with Ruhi. They had gone to the park together, and had gone shopping with Rinki, with Mrs Bhalla's blessings.

"I think mumma is coming around to liking you Bhabhi" Rinki had laughed delightedly.

Her amma had noticed Mihika's sullen mood but Ishita had been able to pass it off as a tiff with Mihir. Questions about Abhi she had countered by saying that he was spending time with his children, and would be away with them for a few days.

Now, as she sat in her office, Ishita acknowledged that everything had gone as well as could be expected. Mihika had kept her word and her silence, and Abhi was out of her life. Now all that was needed was for Raman to return, and they could bring their marriage out in the open.

This charade would end and she could be Ruhi's mum and Raman's wife for the world to see. They could finally begin their lives together.

Why then, she wondered, did she have this sense of foreboding, this sense that something was very wrong. That dark clouds were hovering and would drench her soon in misery. Just what, she wondered, was this feeling about?

**********************************************************************************************************
Khanna Mansion
7.00 pm

"Are you sure, Mr Khanna? If you get caught..."

"But I won't get caught Gupta, and it's your job to make sure of that"

Ashok Khanna looked up from his dwindling glass of neat whiskey at his lawyer, and shook a finger at him.

"Just you bloody make sure of that"

"But Mr Khanna" Gupta persisted. He may have been a thoroughly corrupt lawyer and a disgrace to his profession, but Gupta still had his wits about him. "When you said there were other ways to skin a cat, when you gave up on the custody case so easily, I never imagined you meant anything like this...What if Raman Bhalla finds out? What if he stops you..."

"Raman Bhalla is in Mumbai" Ashok smirked, refilling his glass. "I spread a rumour about contamination in Mehta's bottling plant. Bhalla and his side kick are in Mumbai, trying to do damage control. He won't be back for the rest of the week. I can take my time and go ahead with my plan"

"You think of everything Mr Khanna" Gupta said with grudging admiration. "But what about Mrs Khanna? Will she agree to this?"

"Shagun knows nothing" Ashok snarled. "She is in London. There is nothing to stop me from doing what I need to do to make Raman Bhalla suffer for humiliating me. I promise you that Gupta. I will make him suffer."

"But Mr Khanna, woh bacchi..." ( That little girl...)

"Don't be such a wimp Gupta. Nothing will happen to the child. She will be safe. But I will be the one who rescues her. Her stepfather. I will get all the glory and the publicity while I make Raman Bhalla look like a fool."

"How Mr Khanna?"

"Gupta, you are such a fool. Itni simple plan nahi samajhte. Ruhi will get kidnapped. By the goons you arrange. Then while Raman Bhalla and his family are off chasing the false clues you will give him, I will rescue Ruhi. Shagun will fly in from London, I'll stage their grand reunion. I'll say the kidnappers called me up as well to demand a ransom, but unlike Bhalla, I used my brains and found the kid. I'll prove that Bhalla is incompetent, that Ruhi is not safe with him. He humiliated me. Now I will humiliate him."

**********************************************************************************************************
9.30 pm
Mayur Vihar, Delhi

She had been thinking of him all evening, lying in bed while her family watched television in the living room, claiming a headache, when what she actually had was a heartache...a heartache at being separated from him, at missing him...

Tere bin... nahi laage jiya
Tere bin ... ab to aa ja piya
Tere bin... nahi laage jiya

She tried to call him, but his phone was switched off. He was busy, she knew, but she yearned to speak to him. Her mother called her again, and with a sigh, she got out of bed and joined her family. Her phone was clutched firmly in her hand though. She needed to hear his voice.

Mumbai

Raman walked into his hotel room, impatiently looking for his phone charger. His phone battery had died and he had not realised it until an hour ago, when he had tried to call her.  He spotted the charger and plugged his phone in, desperate for the phone to charge, so that he could hear her voice, talk to her.

Ye raatein ab nahi dharakti
Din bhi saans nahi lete
Ab toh aa jao mere soniya

10.00pm

"Did I wake you up madrasan?"

"No Raman" Ishita clutched her phone closer to her ear, speaking softly. "Everyone is watching TV. Mein bas balcony par aa gayi" ( I've come onto the balcony)

"You can talk?"

"Yes, but just for a short while. Warna amma suspicious ho jayegi" ( Or else amma will get suspicious)

"Yaar tum madrasiyon ko Jagga Jasoos banne ka itna shauk kyon hai?" ( Why do you madrassi's like playing detective so much?)

"Raaman"

"Ok sorry, talwar mat nikal, meri Jhaansi ki Rani. Tell me, miss kar rahi ho mujhe?" ( Ok sorry, don't unsheath your sword my warrior queen. Tell me, are you missing me?)

"Of course"

Raman grinned and stretched out on his bed, loosening his tie with one hand as he spoke. He pictured her standing on her terrace in her cute night suit, the phone clutched to one shell like ear, her pouty lips speaking softly down the line and across the distance to him.

Baatein reh gayi adhoori
Mere laboon  pe zaroori
Aa ke sun jao mere soniya

The remembered taste of those swollen tender lips, crushed beneath his, caused him to shift restlessly, and he stood up abruptly.

"Wait" he said, moving off the bed and walking out onto his own terrace. "Mein bhi bahar aa gaya. Tere saath chaand ko dekhne. Aacha, so you miss me, hmm?"
( Wait, I've come outside too. To watch the moon with you. So you miss me, hmmm?)

"Yes"

"How much" His voice had turned husky, deepened by his recollection of the last time he had seen her, his breath quickening as he thought of those lips against his, her body crushed against the wall, soft curves moulded to his, her voice moaning in pleasure as he moved inside her.

"Ramman, please na baba"

"Just tell me"

"Raman amma is coming here. Wait."

Raman stayed on the line as he heard her speaking to her amma. "Patient hai amma" she said, and he chuckled. "That's right baby, I am your patient" he whispered down the line at her.

"But at this time Ishita?" He heard his mother in law ask.

"Thodi  nervous hai amma. I have to do a big procedure tomorrow. It's ok, you go , I'll come in soon."

"Ok" Mrs Iyers voice came to him dimly as she moved away.

"Raman, I have to go" she was back on the line.

Raman stretched out his hand into the Mumbai night. It was a dull rainy night and a fine  drizzle splattered against his shirtsleeves.

Pehle jaise mausam bhi aate nahi
Barishon mein pehle jaise Baatein nahi hai

"No" he said. "First tell me how much you miss me."

"Accha baba. I miss you a lot. I miss you to the moon and back."

"And when I get back, what will you do to show me how much you missed me, hmm? To show just how much you needed me, how much you wanted me?"

"Raman, stop it" her voice was low and he could hear the quick intake of her breath. The thought that he affected his wife in that way made his voice even huskier.

Sookhe sookhe alfaaz, khali khali mere
Haathon ki lakeerein bulave soniya

"Will you kiss me?" He ignored her protestations.

Ishita glanced at her parents and Mihika inside the living room and softly closed the door to the balcony.

"Yes" she whispered. "You know I will"

"Where? Where will you kiss me?"

"Wherever you say" she whispered, remembering the kisses he had rained on her in Rajasthan, his lips lingering on her neck, her chest, her back. "Everywhere you kissed me."

"Will you. Is that a promise?"

"Yes, I promise."

"What else" he asked, his breath quickening. His wife was certainly being bold on the phone, and his ache to get back to her, and to put her words into action, intensified.

"Raman" she said, shyly now.

"What else will you do to me baby?" His voice was hoarse with longing for her, and he cursed anew the circumstances that kept them apart. Their encounter on Friday night had been too brief, too hurried. That momentary relief had quietened the jealous storms in his heart, but it had left him wanting so much more. He ached for her, and he could hear the same frustration in her voice.

Chaand bhi wahin hai, Wahin hai sitarein
Tere bina pheeke pheeke lagte hai saarein

"Whatever you want" his wife was saying.

"Mein abhi aa jaon?  ( Shall I come back now) Because what I want I want now baby."

"When are you coming back Raman?" He could hear the longing in her voice.

"Soon sweetheart. Just hang in there ok"

"Hmmm"

"Dream of me, like I dream of you"

"Hmmm"

"Want me, like I want you?"

"Um hmm"

"Do you have any idea what you do to me Ishita? I want you so bad. I want to feel you, to taste you, to make you mine, over and over again. I'm just crazy about you my love."

Aaja leke tu savere, dur karja tu andherein
Teri doori tadpaein soniya

"Don't say things like that Raman"

"Kyun?" (Why?)

"Kuch hota hai" (Something happens )

"Kya hota hai, hmm?" (What happens?)

"I don't know" she sighed.

"Tell me something"

"Kya?" (What?)

"Kya jaadu kar diya hai mujh pe Ishita? (What magic have you done to bewitch me Ishita?) I just hear your voice and I ache for you. Do you ache for me baby?"

"Raman, please...let me go. Woh...amma..."

"First tell me you love me"

"I love you Raman. Jaldi aana. I miss you so much. But I'm scared Raman. I don't know why. I...yes amma. Raman, I have to go."

He was left with the dial tone in his ear and he looked at his phone in frustration as the echo of her soft voice still resonated in his ears.

"I love you too Ishita" he whispered into the darkness." And there's no reason to be scared. Nothing will go wrong now baby. Nothing. We will be together forever. Very soon"

Ye raatein ab nahi dharakti
Din bhi saans nahi lete
Ab toh aa jao mere soniya
Baatein reh gayi adhoori
Mere laboon  pe zaroori
Aa ke sun jao mere soniya

Tere bin... nahi laage jiya
Tere bin ... ab to aa ja piya
Tere bin... nahi laage jiya

Pehle jaise mausam bhi aate nahi
Barishon mein pehle jaise Baatein nahi hai
Pehle jaise mausam bhi aate nahi
Barishon mein pehle jaise Baatein nahi hai
Sookhe sookhe alfaaz, khali khali mere
Haathon ki lakeerein bulave soniya

Tere bin... nahi laage jiya
Tere bin ... ab to aa ja piya
Tere bin... nahi laage jiya

Chaand bhi wahin hai, Wahin hai sitarein
Tere bina pheeke pheeke lagte hai saarein
Chaand bhi wahin hai, Wahin hai sitarein
Tere bina pheeke pheeke lagte hai saarein
Aaja leke tu savere, dur karja tu andherein
Teri doori tadpaein soniya

Tere bin... nahi laage jiya
Tere bin ... ab to aa ja piya
Tere bin... nahi laage jiya
Tere bin
Tere Bin